The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced today that Pietro Caucchioli has been sanctioned for two years by the National Anti-Doping Tribunal of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). The Italian has been provisionally suspended since June of 2009 due to abnormal values in his Biological Passport, something that has now been officially deemed a breach of the Anti-Doping Rules.
Caucchioli was also implicated by Bernhard Kohl in the Austrian case that revolves around his former manager Stefan Matschiner and the blood bank HumanPlasma. According to Kohl, the Italian made a one-time payment to use the blood centrifuge that was purchased by himself, fellow cyclist Michael Rasmussen, and cross country skiing champion Christian Hoffman. The machine was rented out to other athletes by Matschiner.
The Italian turned professional in 1999 for the Amica Chips team and rode there for two seasons. He then switched over to the Alessio team through 2004. Caucchioli moved to Crédit Agricole in 2005 and stayed there until the team folded in 2008. He rode for Lampre until his suspension in June of 2009. His biggest career wins are two stages of the Giro d'Italia in 2001. He finished third overall in the Italian Grand Tour the following year.