Danilo Di Luca is facing a lifetime ban from cycling after testing positive for EPO. The 37-year-old Italian, who has already served a ban for blood-boosting at the 2009 Giro d’Italia, failed an out-of-competition test (which was taken on April 29) and has subsequently been sacked by his Vini Fantini-Selle team. Luca Scinto, the understandably less-than-sympathetic Team Director, said, ‘Di Luca is an idiot. I never wanted him. He is sick and needs help.’
Di Luca, winner of the Giro in 2007, only signed for Vini Fantini-Selle and was sitting comfortably at 26th in this year’s Giro at the time of the test results. In an official statement Team Manager Angelo Citracca said, ‘Danilo Di Luca (is) repeatedly involved in problems related to doping and already disqualified for similar violations, repaid the trust of a friend and great entrepreneur with another mistake, whose consequences damages Vini Fantini Selle Italia team even if it is innocent… Following the news, learned with regret in the morning, the team has dismissed the athlete, intimating him to get away. At this point, Vini Fantini Selle Italia will ask for a compensation for damages, in accordance with the internal Rules signed by all the members of the team.’
Di Luca’s disgrace marks the second doping scandal at this year’s Giro. Following Stage 7, AG2R La Mondiale’s Sylvain Georges tested positive for the banned stimulant Heptaminol and was withdrawn from the race.
