Russian rider Nikita Novikov has received a two-year doping ban by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. The former Vacansoleil rider was tested positive for Ostarine, which is a steroid. He has been suspended by the UCI since 17th of May, where he was tested out-of-competition.

“Based on the findings of the Disciplinary Committee of the Anti-Doping decided to disqualify the athlete Nikita Novikov for 2 years,” RUSADA stated.

The exact product Novikov was tested positive for was Hydroxy-ostarine, also known as O-Dephenyl-ostarine. It is a product, which makes your muscles grow faster, but the product is still being tested and is not “ready” yet. Back in May, Vacansoleil manager Daan Luijkx was very sad about the positive doping test by Novikov.

“At the end of 2011 we hired this young talent for two years. Since that time he didn’t manage to reach his old level in our environment despite all the efforts of our team. It needs no clarification that as a team we are devastated by this.”

“As a team you try to give your riders a safe environment with good coaching and staff and that makes it very disappointing when a rider does something wrong, like it appears this is the case now. When I talked to the rider last night, after the UCI informed us, he said he had no idea how the substance got in his body.”

“I strongly believe the sport is on his way up and I am sorry for the sport that this happens but it is good that possible breaches of the rules are traced.”

The ban is set to have started at June 6th 2013 and will end 6th June 2015