They were denied passports
There’s a good interview over at NY Velocity with Michael Ashenden. Ashenden’s an Australian physiologist with an expertise in blood doping, and an advisor to the UCI.
The interview assesses where the “Bio Passport” scheme is today, essentially it is a source of information and a tool but it is not a net that blocks every cheat. Such shades of grey might be complicated for cycling fans wanting a black and white world but the passport scheme is useful. Even if it is expensive, the value it brings to the sport must surely exceed the cost, although there is the question of who has to pay the bills and who benefits from the information and credibility the passport begins.