A statement from Lampre-Merida revealed the International Cycling Union (UCI) had notified Ulissi of "an adverse analytical finding in relation to the anti-doping test carried out at the end of the 11th stage during the Giro d'Italia."

The team statement added: "The results of the test from the UCI report the presence in the urine of the athlete of an abnormal amount of salbutamol (1900 ng/ml), higher than the limit allowed by the regulations, which sees the limit at 1000 ng/ml."

Ulissi had declared in his statement prior to the anti-doping test that he had used Ventolin, a brand of sulbutamol, before the race after suffering a bronchospasm, a feature of asthma.

The use of Ventolin in this manner is allowed during races.

It was due to the "abnormal" presence of the chemical in his urine that brought it to the UCI's attention; with the 24-year-old claiming just "two puffs, equivalent to 100 ng of salbutamol each" was used prior to the race.

Diego Ulissi won stages five and eight of the 2014 Giro d'Italia ©AFP/Getty Images



Ulissi has been suspended by the team and will not be attending the national team training camp.

The team statement added that the rider has requested an analysis of his B-sample.

"The athlete and the medical staff of the team will continue to explore the reasons why the urine has been identified as having an abnormal and high presence of salbutamol, compared to only two inhalations," the statement read.

"Ulissi strongly rejects the presence of such a large amount of salbutamol and decided to make use of the possibility provided for by the World Anti-doping Agency and UCI regulations to undergo a controlled excretion study in relation to salbutamol."

The Italian won stages five and eight of the Giro d'Italia last month before retiring after stage 17 due to a sore throat and fever.

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