Cannondale's Stefano Agostini provisionally suspended following positive test

Cannondale rider Stefano Agostini has been provisionally suspended by the UCI after failing a drug test last month.

Agostini, 24, tested positive for clostebol, a derivative of testosterone, in an out of competition urine sample taken on August 21. 

The suspension remains in place until the results of the Italian rider's B sample are known and a hearing has been convened by the Italian Cycling Federation.

In early September, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Agostini had been suspended by his team for ‘violating the team's internal regulations' and he was removed from their roster for the Brussels Cycling Classic.

The 2010 Italian U23 road race champion joined Cannondale in 2011 as an amateur before signing a neo-pro contract a year later. His best result in 2013 was on the fourth stage of the Tour of Austria where he finished sixth.

Agostini was mistakenly named by his team as one of the Cannondale riders taking part in the ride from Kingston's Sigma Sport this Monday. However that was always set to be Cannondale's Tour of Britain team that he is not part of. 

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NB: This article was updated at 18:30hrs, Friday September 20