The US Anti-Doping Agency USADA has announced that former Rock Racing rider Kayle Leogrande has been suspended for two years by a three member arbitration panel that unanimously concluded that Leogrande used EPO during last year's US Super Week.

“Whenever a rider is suspended – be it for doping or any disciplinary issue – it brings negative attention to  the sport that so many of us are working hard to cast in a positive light,” commented Rock Racing team owner Michael Ball.

“In Kayle’s case, knowing that several of the sport’s governing bodies were also conducting their own investigations, we felt it was  not appropriate to prevent him from racing until a verdict was  reached. USA Cycling and the UCI did not deny him the right to race. Rock Racing absolutely and unequivocally does not condone doping, but we do respect due process."

According to Ball “The decision to not re-sign Kayle for the 2009 season had nothing to do with this case. It was based on performance."