Mauro Santambrogio is blaming the use of drugs to treat infertility and erectile disfunction last summer, as the cause for his positive test for testosterone last October.
“This time, I have a clear conscience. I’ll tell you how things are, and then everyone is free to think how he wants,” Santambrogio told the Italian cycling website, Tutto Bici.
“I was suspended, I didn’t know if I’d race again, so I decided to tackle a delicate physical problem. I went to an urologist on July 7. For my erection problem, he wrote me a prescription for Andriol, 40mg for three months, plus Aprosten for 60 days. Also, I had fertility problems and was being tested because I want to start a family.
Andriol is a brand name for testosterone, while Aprosten is used to address prostate problems.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) bans the use of Andriol at any level. An athlete may not apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to use the drug.
“On October 22, when the testers came, I told them that I was being treated. I showed them the documents. They took photographs of them and tested me. The same day, I called UCI’s Doctor Mario Zorzoli to explain the situation.
“Why would I cheat? I didn’t even know I would be returning until October 28 because all the teams had been flatly denying me.”
Santambrogio initially received a 4-year ban from racing by the UCI, after he tested positive for the banned substance EPO, during the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
However, the Italian rider received a reduced ban to just 18-months, for his cooperation with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC).
Santambrogio’s ban ended on November 2, 2014, which allowed him to sign with the Amore & Vita team.
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