Luca Paolini has been handed a 18-month ban by the UCI after testing positive for cocaine during last year’s Tour de France.

"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal has rendered its decision in the case involving Luca Paolini," the UCI wrote in a press release.

"The Anti-Doping Tribunal found the rider guilty of a non-intentional anti-doping rule violation (presence of a cocaine metabolite - benzoylecgonine) and imposed an 18-month period of ineligibility on the rider."

In December, Paolini admitted that he had been addicted to the drug for several years and that he had undergone treatment to stop his abuse of sleeiping medication.. He still hoped to be cleared of any wrongdoing but at 39 years of age, he is now likely to face retirement.

Katusha had opened the door to take him back if he was cleared but now there will be no room for the veteran.

“We are happy that there’s now been a decision but for us it doesn’t change anything for the team because we terminated his contract last year. At a certain point he admitted to us that he took cocaine and that’s really against our team rules. He still has the right to go to appeal but it doesn’t change things for us. We have strict anti-doping policy,” a Katusha spokesperson told Cyclingnews.