In what is a bizarrely belated decision, the UCI has announced that its disciplinary commission has ruled on a protest against the suspension imposed on the Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec team.

The squad was sidelined for 30 days, running from August 1 to 30, as a result of the positive tests of two of its riders.

Italian rider Davide Appollonio was subjected to a doping control on June 14, and this subsequently showed traces of EPO.

On July 27 the UCI announced that another Italian, Fabio Taborre, underwent an out of competition doping control on June 16 2015 which subsequently revealed traces of the substance FG-4592.

The team was suspended under anti-doping regulation 7.12.1, which was introduced at the start of the year.

That rule states that teams with two positives – other than those for specified substances – will face suspensions between 15 and 45 days.

Responding to the 30 day suspension, the team manager Gianni Savio said on July 29 that the squad would protest.

“We’ll appeal to UCI for a lifting of the suspension since Article 7.12.1 foresees that the suspension shall be lifted if the team proves to bear no responsibility,” said Savio. “Not only are we totally unrelated to the facts, but we will also provide all the documents demonstrating the measures adopted to fight against doping: from the seminars guided by lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone, the education courses, the many letters sent to all the components of the team, to the signing of the strict internal rules certified by Notary Marco Marvaso.”

Despite the fact that the suspension ended on August 30, exactly two months ago, the UCI’s announced the outcome of that appeal on Friday.

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Disciplinary Commission has denied the request for a lifting of the suspension filed by the UCI Professional Continental Team Androni Giocattolli-Sidermec in accordance with article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules,” it stated.

The team is suing both riders for 100,000 euro, as per the terms of a written agreement all team members signed at the start of the year undertaking not to dope.