After having Diego Ulissi suspended until March, Lampre-Merida may lose the rider to another team thanks to the complicated anti-doping rules that exist within cycling.

Ulissi was handed a backdated nine-month ban last week, meaning he can race on Match 28, meaning he can still achieve his targets of the Ardennes Classics and the Giro d’Italia.

But he may not be doing it for Lampre. They are members of the MPCC group, along with 10 other WorldTour teams. Rules dictate that a team can’t sign a rider who has served a ban of over six months until two years after their suspension ended. This is the same rule that stopped Astana signing France Pellizotti.

That means Ulissi woulsnt be racing until March 2 2017 for Lamore. But teams like BMC, Movistar, Etixx-Quick-Step, Sky, Tinkoff-Saxo, and Trek can all sign him as they are not part of the group.

Lampre’s team manager, Brent Copeland told VeloNews that he needed time to examine the situation because Ulissi has an existing contract.

In 2013, Lampre renewed Ulissi’s contract for two years, 2014 and 2015. When his ban ends, he will still be a Lampre employee and technically will not be signing a new contract. If Lampre was to tear up contract, Ulissi might sue based on various labor laws.

It’s a particular situation,” said Yvon Sanquer, MPCC vice president.

“The rule is six months or more, which blocks a rider for two years from joining MPCC teams, but we need to speak about this case with the MPCC board because it’s a bit touchy because Lampre already has a contract with the cyclist.

“We are a voluntary movement. We know that sometimes problems come up with labor laws, but that’s sometimes the price for better and cleaner cycling. For sure, it’s not easy for Lampre to find a solution. The board will have to meet to look at this situation and the rules.”

The UCI wants the cycling world to unite under one group and not have things like the MPCC, as they cause issues like the Ulissi case, where the rider has served a ban but his tam can’t race him.

“It’s confusing with teams running under other rules, but really there is just one set of anti-doping rules,” UCI president Brian Cookson said in September.

“If teams want to follow other rules, they can, but I think it’d be easier if they are all under the same rules. It’s confusing for the riders, teams, and public. I’d like to harmonize it under the UCI’s code.”