Neri Sottoli rider Matteo Rabottini has endured a hectic last few days. He was announced as part of the 16-man long list for Italian team for the World Championships on Friday morning and by Friday afternoon he had been pulled from the team after the UCI announced he had tested positive for EPO on August 8.

The Italian Cycling Federation announced that Davide Formolo of Cannondale would take Rabottini’s place. This is the second rider the ICF have had to withdraw from their roster after Gianluca Brambilla was pulled after fighting with Ivan Rovny in the Vuelta a Espana.

Neri Sottoli, who almost went bankrupt last year after 2 positive tests for Danilo Di Luca and Mauro Santambroggio at the Giro d’Italia, have yet to comment on the incident. Rabottini has been provisionally suspended by the UCI pending his trial.

He is the second rider in a week to test positive for EPO, after Astana rider Valentin Iglinskiy admitted to taking the drug and was sacked by Astana.