AP
24 May 2013
Former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca was today forced out of the race and provisionally suspended after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs for the second time in his career.
A surprise doping test carried out at the 37-year-old Italian’s home on April 29 revealed erythropoietin in his system.
Di Luca, winner of the race in 2007, was previously handed a two-year ban — later reduced to nine months — after a positive test during the 2009 edition of the Giro.
Di Luca has been riding for Vini-Fantini in this year’s race and their sports director, Luca Scinto, said: “Di Luca is an idiot, I never wanted him. He is ill, he needs to be helped.”
Meanwhile, the 19th stage of this year’s Giro was cancelled today because of snow.
