Tomorrow, in Milan, at the LaPresse headquarters at 12.30 p.m., Andrea Iannone has invited a selected number of press representatives due to the strict anti-Covid-19 regulations.
Attorney De Rensis, Professor Salomone and Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, will be present with Andrea.
We have no idea what ‘The Maniac’ can tell us as he will of course not reveal the outcome of the doping case that has dragged on since the end of last year, but it will certainly be interesting to listen to the riders from Vasto. Andrea made a brief appearance on the Misano track, but he hasn’t ridden his bike in anger since last year.
The Aprilia driver, who was found positive for doping on November 3, allegedly accidentally, negligently and unintentionally ingested drostanolone (a victim of food contamination). The disqualification was imposed from December 17, 2019 through June 16, 2021, but Iannone appealed to the CAS and the verdict is expected in days.
“That time was the most difficult of my life. I thought of everything – said Iannone after the first sentence – to see my innocence recognized is a victory. It could have been much worse. Even if we definitely lost because it so is was a prison sentence of 18 months. I was the first case of a food contamination suspension. Obviously neither of us knows exactly what we are eating. There is an inconsistency between regulation and real life. The aim now is to get back on the bike as quickly as possible. “
Andrea has not said a word since then. On this occasion Aprilia has issued this press release:
“Aprilia Racing takes note of the FIM provision that inflicts an eighteen month disqualification on driver Andrea Iannone. From an initial analysis of the verdict, it is noted with satisfaction that the total lack of willful misconduct and accidental use of steroids has been recognized – the theory admitting food contamination, which has never happened before, this scenario opens up new avenues of appeal for Andrea Iannone, but the confusion remains about a penalty that completely contradicts the reconstruction contained in the judgment itself, which recognizes Andrea Iannone’s innocence, without the facts In accordance with the sporting values that have always inspired its activity and that do not allow for any tolerance of the practices prohibited by the regulations, Aprilia Racing has always reaffirmed its full confidence in its driver, it does so with renewed vigor and will after this judgment him in his Appeal to the eCAS “.
Then added it through Massimo Rivola: “The verdict leaves us unsettled by the punishment imposed on Andrea, but also very satisfied with his motives. The judges recognized Andreas’s absolute goodwill and ignorance of the assumption that confirms the theory of food contamination “.
These are the facts Aprilia Racing was forced to use test driver Bradley Smith instead of Iannone for. A huge damage, also from the point of view of the development of the RS-GP, which is solely entrusted to Aleix Espargaro.
We shall see tomorrow which chapter will be added to this ugly story, which accepted a sentence even by the International Federation, which failed to impose the absurdity of a first sentence that admitted the chance assumption was very badly made.