MADRID, Spain – Italian MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone has been served with an 18-month suspension for a violation of the FIM Anti-Doping Code.

Following a routine in-competition doping test conducted at the Malaysian MotoGP round in Sepang, Malaysia, on Nov. 3, Iannone tested positive for Drostanolone metabolite 2α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α-ol-17-one, a WADA-prohibited substance under the FIM Anti-Doping Code.

Following the notification of his positive test, Iannone was provisionally suspended by the FIM on Dec. 17.

A hearing before the CDI on the merits of the case was held in Mies, Switzerland on Feb. 4.

At the end of the hearing, the CDI panel elected to suspend the hearing pending the additional and final written submissions of the parties on Feb. 28.

The FIM International Disciplinary Court handed down its final decision Wednesday, with the suspension declared effective from Dec. 17, the date of the provisional suspension.

Iannone’s suspension will end on June 16, 2021.

In addition, Iannone has been disqualified from rounds 18 and 19 of last year’s MotoGP World Championship, held Nov. 1-3 at Sepang Int’l Circuit and Nov. 15-17 at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, respectively.

The disqualifications include the forfeiture of any medals, points and prize money.

Iannone has maintained his innocence throughout his appeal process, and his FIM disciplinary hearing found that he ingested the anabolic steroid in question due to eating contaminated meat, but he could not be fully acquitted as a result.

Iannone may lodge an appeal against the CDI decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, within 21 days from the date of receipt of the CDI decision pursuant to Article 13.7 of the FIM Anti-Doping Code.