Aprilia MotoGP boss Massimo Rivola says he is ‘baffled’ by the 18-month doping sentence handed rider Andrea Iannone by the FIM.
Rivola believes the FIM recognised that Iannone innocently ingested a banned substance but failed to acquit, which to him makes no sense.
“The sentence leaves us baffled because of the penalty levied against Andrea, but also very satisfied in its motivations,” said Rivola.
“The judges recognised Andrea’s complete good faith and unawareness of assuming the substance, confirming the food contamination argument. For this reason, the penalty imposed does not make any sense.
In light of the motivations written by the judges themselves, Andrea should have been acquitted, as has always occurred to other contaminated athletes, but this situation leaves us a lot of hope for the appeal which we hope will be very quick.
“We want Andrea back on his Aprilia RS-GP. We will be by his side all the way to the end of this matter and we will support him in his appeal.”
Iannone will appeal to the Court for Arbitration in Sport.