Team Total Energy has announced the immediate termination of its contract with Alexandre Jenyes.

The French rider was convicted in March of domestic abuse against his ex-wife and sentenced to a suspended four-month prison sentence; the 34-year-old was also ordered to pay symbolic €1 compensation to Lucy Garrigues after abuse dating back to February 2020.

Genies, who participated in the Tour of Saudi Arabia and the Tour de Rwanda, has not raced since the conclusion of his trial in Rodez.

"Team Total Energy has agreed to terminate its contract with Alexandre Genies. As of today, he is no longer a member of Team Total Energy."

Following the decision, the UCI confirmed to Cycling News that the Ethics Committee would consider further action to be taken against the French rider. The Ethics Commission is empowered to take a range of actions, from admonishment and educational measures to suspensions and fines, if it finds that Jénieres has violated the UCI Code of Ethics.

In a statement on Facebook (opens in new tab), Genies wrote that he had decided to leave the team and end his cycling career. The three-time stage winner of the Vuelta a España had planned to retire at the end of 2022.

"After achieving my goals in cycling and going through changes in my personal life, I decided to leave the Total-Energies team and start a new career... At 34 years old, I decided to dedicate more of my personal life to a project I have been thinking about for several years, cycling and the southwest of France where I live. I realized the need to develop projects related to the economic activities of Aveyron."

In March, TotalEnergies team boss Jean-René Bernaudeau told Cyclingnews in an interview that he was "powerless" to take action against Geniez, such as terminating his contract, according to French employment law.

"By law, we can do nothing more," Bernaudeau explained. 'Officially, Alexandre has not been suspended. It is true that at this point we are keeping him at home to give him time to understand and digest this matter. It's serious. The accusations are serious. But today, legally, he has the right to race."

The outcome of his appeal and the action to be taken by the UCI Ethics Committee following the decision by TotalEnergies and Geniez remains to be seen.