Italian Danilo Di Luca Banned Two Years for Doping at 2009 Giro d'Italia
By AP
Feb 1, 2010 - 7:55:58 AM
Danilo di Luca (Left). Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.
Danilo Di Luca has been suspended for two years for doping at last year's Giro d'Italia.
The Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping court imposed the ban Monday after Di Luca tested positive for the advanced blood booster CERA following two stages of the 2009 race.
CONI's anti-doping prosecutor had sought a three-year ban.
Di Luca finished second overall in the 2009 Giro d'Italia behind winner Denis Menchov. The ban could prompt organizers to rearrange the final standings, moving Franco Pellizotti up to second and Carlos Sastre to third.
Di Luca was already suspended for three months in 2007 - the year he won the Giro - after being implicated in another drug case.
