Di Luca tests positive

[StevieL]

Former Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca tested positive for EPO in a surprise test at his home before this year's race, organisers announced on Friday.

If confirmed in a backup "B" sample, Di Luca risks a lifetime ban since this is his third offense.

The 37-year-old Italian rides for the Vini Fantini squad.

The test was carried out April 29, five days before the Giro started, and the result drew a harsh rebuke from Vini Fantini team director Luca Scinto.

"Di Luca is an idiot. I never wanted him," Scinto said. "Di Luca is sick. He needs to be helped."

The race ends Sunday and Di Luca stands 26th overall, 33 minutes, 33 seconds behind overall leader Vincenzo Nibali. In 2009, Di Luca was given a two-year ban after testing positive during the Giro for CERA, an advanced form of the blood booster EPO. That ban was subsequently reduced by nine months after he collaborated with Italian anti-doping authorities.

And after winning the 2007 Giro, Di Luca was banned for three months later in the year for frequent visits to Carlo Santuccione, a physician at the centre of a four-year doping investigation.

Seemingly headed for retirement just a few months ago, Di Luca signed with Vini Fantini just a few days before the surprise test.

He has fared well in several stages, finishing third in the seventh leg, seventh in stage 9, sixth in stage 11 and 10th in Thursday's uphill time trial.

It's the second doping case from this year's race, after French rider Sylvain Georges tested positive for the banned stimulant Heptaminol in a urine sample after the seventh stage. The 28-year-old AG2R La Mondiale rider was immediately withdrawn from the race.

 

 

This must surely be a lifetime ban, I mean 3 times. Come on!!

[Jaco-fiets]

I find it extremely bad taste for a team manager to respond like that about a rider on his team. You at least handle it more diplomatic no matter what your personal feeling is towards the rider.

[Wez-O]

I think it's a great way to react to yet another cheating scumbag who has brought disgrace not only to his team but also the sport and cyclists! Name and shame!!!

 

Here is Andre Greipel response on Twitter:

"Di Luca! Doping in cycling disappeared but not in your cycling world!0 tolerance for cheaters! Hope you never come back into cycling!"

[jmaccelari]

Agge nee!

[jcza]

3rd time, some things never change. I see Italian Pro Riders' Union ACCPI to sue Danilo DiLuca once confirmed. Not sure for what.

[jcza]

ACCPI ItalianProsUnion stigmatize DiLuca's act.

 

"Gruppo cant accept the behavour of a fool that's a damage for cycling circus"

[Brighter-Lights]

How do you get caught twice and then do it again?

 

Doping will never stop... just as murder and rape will never stop, just as in the guillotine was not enough of a deterrant in the middle ages...

[pista]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/di-luca-sacked-by-vini-fantini-after-epo-positive

[jcza]

Lance Armstrong‏@lancearmstrong5m

Knowing I have 0 cred on the doping issue - I still can't help but think, "really Di Luca? Are you that ******* stupid??"

[javadude]

Maybe its an Italian thing, but Di Luca seems about as dumb as Ricco.

[Azonic]

Lance Armstrong‏@lancearmstrong5m

Knowing I have 0 cred on the doping issue - I still can't help but think, "really Di Luca? Are you that ******* stupid??"

 

How many times was Lance, "caught"? Allot more times.

[babse]

what a ******* idiot

 

goes to show that these 2/3 years bans are a waste!

Life time ban should be for first time offenders

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Lance Armstrong‏@lancearmstrong5m

Knowing I have 0 cred on the doping issue - I still can't help but think, "really Di Luca? Are you that ******* stupid??"

 

- Ha,Ha, well, what can one say,.......... I agree.!

[Wayne Booysen]

How many times was Lance, "caught"? Allot more times.

 

Up until he confessed, officially not once...but it doesn't make any sense for the pot to call the kettle black!

['Dale]

what a ******* idiot

 

goes to show that these 2/3 years bans are a waste!

Life time ban should be for first time offenders

 

True.

Clean up.

This beautiful sport.

[RacerX]

I find it extremely bad taste for a team manager to respond like that about a rider on his team. You at least handle it more diplomatic no matter what your personal feeling is towards the rider.

I disagree - it's such an incredibly selfish act and an insult to the whole team, especially these days with the MPCC where the entire team can be banned for a period of time even if only one rider tests positive (2 incidents in a 12 month period I think). Calling him an idiot is generous in this case.