Mauro Santambrogio's Amore e Vita-Selle SMP team has responded to the Italian's positive test for testosterone which he claims to have been caused by treatment for fertility problems. He receives the full backing from his new employer which believes that his human rights may have been violated.

This afternoon Amore & Vita -Selle SMP have finally responded to the fact that their new signing Mauro Santambrogio has tested positive for testosterone. The continental team has issued a press release with statements from Ivano and Christian Fanini who want to express their solidarity with the rider while also underlining that they will pursue the matter.

"The news was undoubtedly shocking," explains owner Ivano Fanini. "Mauro has just informed us on the phone. But, after careful consideration of the documentation and especially after listening attentively to his explanations, we realized that Santambrogio did not commit any type of sporting fraud. There was no intention to affect the performance at a time in which he did not know if he would ever again be riding his bike competitively. In fact we believe in the good faith of the guy. We support his decision to solve a serious problem [fertility problems]. He did so at a time when cycling was no longer oart of his world. It was a sacred duty as it is for every human being. It is even more important to want to give birth to a child. We are Amore e Vita and so we follow the ideals that are based on this basis. We will do the best we can to be his support."

"I want to clarify that at the time of Mauro Santambrogio's test he had not yet been contacted by our company," adds team manager Cristian Fanini. "We had the first conversation on October 28 and two days later we met and made the agreement. His contract was filed to the UCI on December 3, so at the time of the test Santambrogio was not affiliated with any team or league. Also, Santambrogio had been removed from the RTP of NADO-CONI in April 2014. This happens when you can no longer be regarded as an athlete. Furthermore, a disqualified athlete is not required to apply for a therapeutic use exemption TEU to undergo treatments involving the use of prohibited substances on the WADA list so even in this respect Santambrogio, according to our opinion, did not commit any kind of crime.

"I repeat that Santambrogio was not an affiliated with any team or any other Federation in 2014. He was serving a suspension and then had to be considered in all respects as a free citizen, free from any form of constraint by institutions and sports federations and with full power to do what he considers useful for his life. For this reason we believe that the out-of-competition test could only come out positive given what he had done (before undergoing the test, Santambrogio claims to have told the testers that he was undergoing treatment). We reserve the right to pursue the matter to see if there may have been, as we believe, a violation of human rights, and understand if those who managed the results, have complied with the law and human rights of Mauro Santambrogio."