Biondo facing two-year ban for EPO positive
The Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor recommended a two-year ban on Friday for Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce cyclist Maurizio Biondo, who tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO earlier this year.
Biondo was caught in an out-of-competition test on August 12th in Concorrezzo, which is situated just a few kilometers northeast of Milan.
A statement from the Union Cycliste International (UCI) at the time said: "The UCI today advised Italian rider Maurizio Biondo that he is provisionally suspended. The decision was made in response to a report from the WADA-accredited laboratory in Lausanne indicating an Adverse Analytical Finding of EPO (NESP) in a blood sample collected from him in an out-of-competition test on 12 August 2009."
The 28-year-old will stand trial on January 25, 2010, with the anti-doping prosecutor also requesting that a fine be imposed on the Italian.
Biondo won the time trial in the Tour of Denmark earlier this year, where he finished second overall.
This is another example of the doping controls within the sport narrowing the window of opportunity for cheats.