Convicted doper Danillo di Luca has been fined 280,000 Euros and banned for two years following his positive test for CERA at last years Giro D’Italia. UCI anti-doping rules, which came into effect in January 2009, state that riders convicted of doping should face financial penalties amounting to a riders’ net annual.
Di Luca’s compatriot Maurizio Biondo and Spain’s Inigo Landaluze also failed tests and will have to hand over €13,750 and €27,300 respectively. It is not the first time Di Luca’s name has been linked to doping. In 2007 he was suspended for three months for associations with Dr Carlos Santuccione, who received a lifetime ban from the Italian Olympic Committee for supplying banned substances.
Some will ask why Di Luca is only handed a two year ban with this second offence and not a life ban. He tested positive twice for the banned drug CERA during the Giro D’Italia and two years ago his blood levels were called into question, although without any failed test. At 34 years of age Di Luca will unlikely return to the top of the sport once his ban is over. A relief for all anti-dopers.
Comments
Emp 10.02.2010 at 11:27am
Well nice job Bike Pure!!But ouch....280k euro....it's quite pain:)
Andy McGibbon 03.02.2010 at 02:41pm
F*** him, too little too late. Typical & pathetic of the UCI to do the right thing "eventually"
Bike Pure fan 03.02.2010 at 02:13pm
It wold be nice to see more Italian and Spanish pro's under the Bike Pure banner.
BikePure Italia 03.02.2010 at 02:07pm
Two things are raised here, 1, why is Vino and the ‘chicken’ etc, allowed to race while their ban is pending with the CAS? The both signed the "Commitment to a New Cycling" so should pay up. As we are aware with Valverde’s case it can take up to two years and the massive legal loopholes which exist in the bloodpassport program, mean they will more than likely get off! And 2, Surely if 13,000 is 70% of Biondo’s wage, considering Italian state income tax, Biondo’s take home pay was 14,056 euros. Not a survivable wage to keep a family on. So Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce (his old team and new home of the cheat Ricco) not only support and embrace dopers but pay them rubbish money for putting their health at risk. Article 326 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules “establishes a fine corresponding to the net annual income of any rider committing an offence sanctioned by a suspension of two years or more.” Is on the mark- Please implement it to the other 66 riders who tested positive in 2009.
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