Italian cyclist Andrea Piccolo suspected of transporting human growth hormone

• Former Vuelta race leader fired by EF Pro Cycling team
• Piccolo was suspended in March for taking sleeping aid

Andrea Piccolo has been sacked by US-based team EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling. The 23-year-old was stopped by Italian authorities on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone while trying to enter his home country.

In a statement confirming Piccolo’s contract had been terminated, “effective immediately,” EF Pro Cycling added that the Italian was “suspended internally without pay in March, after taking a sleeping aid that was not approved by the team, though legal.”