This summer Astana announced that it had signed a contract with Franco Pellizotti, but it now reveals that the Italian will not join them after all.

Pellizotti’s arrival was originally complicated. due to MPCC (Movement for a Credible Cycling) regulations, and because his suspension was required to last for two years after his previous doping ban ended.

Things looked clear when Roger Legeay, MPCC’s president, stated that the Astana team had not broken any of the MPCC internal rules, by signing Franco Pellizotti for the 2014 season, as long as he would not start racing before the third of May, 2014.

“Normally the position is clear. He was suspended from the 3rd of May 2010 until the 3 May 2012. So he can ride the 3rd May 2014,” Legeay then said.

The Astana team recently became a full member of the MPCC and accepted that under MPCC rules the Italian rider cannot race until the second of May, two years after his ban for a UCI biological passport violation.

Pellizotti is an experienced rider who can target hilly stage races and Classics. He raced with Nibali at Liquigas but was suspended for two years after being caught by the UCI's biological passport. He made a comeback in May 2012 and immediately won the Italian national title while riding for the Androni Giocattoli team. He finished 11th overall in this year's Giro d'Italia and was second overall at the Route du Sud race in France in June.

Pellizotti’s deal with Astana seemed secure, and it is therefore surprising that the Kazakhstani team now reverses their former agreement.

“It's with some sadness and a heavy heart that we will not be racing with Franco Pellizotti next year,” Alexandre Vinokourov said to VeloNation.

“Negotiations with the Italian champion have always been optimistic and forthright, but in the end we agreed that we could not go forward with a contract to race with Astana Pro Team in 2014.”

When asked about whether he though Pellizottis career to be over Vinokourov replied: “Pelizotti is in the prime of his career. On a personal level we respect his choices. We wish him success and good luck in the next season.”

“I take this opportunity to wish a full and speedy recovery to his agent Alex Carrera, whose very serious car accident in Italy last month scared us all and shows how important it is to be thankful just to be alive," Vinokourov added.

The question now is if Pellizotti has time to sign with a non MPCC team, allowing him to start riding immediately, or if he chooses a MPCC team, and will still not be allowed a season start before the third of May, 2014. Nonetheless, just a new contract will without doubt be difficult, as Pellizotti is far from the only current unemployed cyclist.