As it was reported by the Dario de los Andes newspaper, the Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team won’t finalize a contract with the Vuelta al Tachira winner Jimmy Briceño, after he was denied a biological passport due to equivocal results from blood analysis.

The Italian Pro Continental squad decided not to pursue the signing of the 27-year old Venezuelan after his blood analysis indicated a highly equivocal levels of haematocrit and haemoglobin.

"Blood analysis resulted in a worrying haematocrit level of 63 and a haemoglobin level of 21," the national federation told Briceño after a meeting, according to Diario de los Andes. 

Thus, Briceño was denied a biological passport which is necessary to compete in a Pro Continental team.

The 27-year old cyclist was expected to join Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela together with his fellow countryman Carlos Galviz after the duo finished first and runner-up at the Vuelta al Tachira, as one of the goals of Italian Pro Continental squad is to ensure the further development of young Venezuelan riders. The team is supported by Venezuelan government in their pursue.

"We contract the best young riders in Venezuela," team manager Gianni Savio said when visiting the country in February.

"These riders from Venezuela are the future of cycling in this country. We want to let them grow and prepare them for the big leap to the World Tour," Savio said.

Briceño was part of the Lotería del Táchira team for the past four seasons. He won the Vuelta al Táchira in 2012 and 2014. He also managed to win three stages in the UCI 2.2 race in Venezuela.