Andrea Iannone will miss the Sepang MotoGP pre-season test as 💎he continues to fight his anti-d♍oping case.

The Italian rider had been ✨provisionally suspended from all MotoGP activities by the FIM after he failed an anti-doping test at last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix having tested positive for an ‘Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Ster🌃oid’ called Drostanolone.

After also having his B-sample give a positive result, a hearing was ca𒁏lled at th🎉e FIM Disciplinary Court in Switzerland (February 4).

Before the hearing Iannone’s lawyers suggested the small amount of banned substance present points towards accid🥃ental consumption via contaminated meat in Asia.

They also argued that use of a drug usually associated with body building makes littl🐽e sense for a motorcycle racer trying to keep weight down, rather than ‘bulk up’.

, Iannone’s lawyers have also submitted a hair sample which has been tested by an anti-doping laboratory in Turin that demonstrates no trace of the st♕eroid found in his other samples taken during the FIM anti-doping in-competition test.

The evidence has delayed a decision from the International Disciplinary Court (CDI), expected to last 10 days, but Iannone’s provisional suspension “from participating in any motorcycling competition or related activity until further notice” 🗹has been upheld. It means Iannone must sit out t🎐he Sepang test.

Since Iannone’s☂ susp🥀ension, test rider Bradley Smith has been filling in at Aprilia for the Sepang shakedown with Lorenzo Savadori called up as additional cover.

With Iannone out oཧf action for at least the Sepa꧂ng test (February 7-9), it is believed the British rider will step up as race rider for Aprilia with Savadori taking up Smith’s testing duties.

Due t🍃o the 10-day delay on Iannone’s case, a final decision will be expected on February 14. The Qatar MotoGP test takes♑ place on February 22-24.

The latest FIM Anti-Doping statement – February 4 2020

“Following a routine In-Competition doping test conducted at the round of the FIM Gra💝nd Prix World Championship held in Sepang, Malaysia on 3 November 2019, Mr Andrea Iannone tested positive for a WADA prohibited substance and is now provisionally suspended since 17 December 2019.

“Mr Andrea Iannone requested analysis of his B sample which also confirmed the result of the A sample ana𒅌lysis.

“The hearing of the International Disciplinary Court (CDI) took place today at the FIM Headquarters in the presence of a panel of three judges of thꩲe CDI whe꧑re Mr Iannone had the opportunity to present his case.

“The proceeding is still ongoing until a CDI decision is rendered. Mr Andrea Iannone remains provisionally suspended𝓡 until then and is therefore barred from 🔯participating in any motorcycling competition or related activity until further notice.

“Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the FIM Anti-Dopinღg Code, the FIM is unable to provide any additional information at this time.”