Aprilia rider Andrea Iannone says he has “every confidence” that his provisional suspension from motorcycle competition will be overturned.
MotoGP’s governing body, the FIM, announced on Tuesday that Iannone provided a positive test for anabolic steroids during the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Iannone has been handed a provisional ban until a further hearing and pending appeal, with the Italian holding the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample.
“I'm totally relaxed and I want to reassure my fans and Aprilia Racing,” said 30-year-old Iannone.
“I am open to any counter analysis in a matter that surprises me, also because – at the moment – I have not received any official communication.
“Over the years, and also this season, I have undergone continuous checks, obviously always proving to be negative, which is why I have every confidence in the positive conclusion of this affair.”
Iannone’s Aprilia team has not commented on the matter.
Iannone, who is contracted with Aprilia through 2020, stepped up to MotoGP in 2013 and claimed victory at the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix.
He joined Aprilia for 2019 after a two-year spell with Suzuki.