The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced Wednesday that it has suspended Italian Danilo Di Luca for two positive tests for the EPO derivative CERA.

The LPR-Brakes rider's doping control samples showed evidence of the banned blood booster on two occasions - on May 20 and 28th during the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

Di Luca finished second overall in the Giro to Russian Denis Menchov of Rabobank.

"These adverse findings were a direct result of a targeted test programme conducted on Mr Di Luca using information from his biological passport’s blood profile, previous test results and his race schedule," the UCI press release stated.

"This is further proof that the system works and we are determined to get rid of the cheats," UCI president Pat McQuaid told Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes.

Di Luca's first positive test came on stage 11 of the Giro the day before the decisive Cinque Terre time trial. The second positive came on stage 18, the day before the final mountain stage to Mount Vesuvius.

On July 13 Di Luca and UCI president Pat McQuaid openly denied the rider was under investigation for his biological passport results after a Spanish newspaper reported as much.

It is the second time that Di Luca has come under suspicion of doping. He served a three-month suspension for involvement in the Italian "Oil for Drugs" investigation. He was suspended for working with a doctor who had been banned by the Italian federation.

It is still unclear as to whether or not Di Luca would face a possible lifetime ban for a second doping offence. "I’m not sure of the regulations on this but I don’t think it would count as a second offence. But that is for the legal people to determine," said McQuaid.

Ste117 wrote:
Im not surprised by Di Luca testing positive. I think after he got banned for 3 months he never really stopped doping, should of been caught sooner. Thats 4 Italian riders that have tested positive in a year Ricco, Piepeli sorry not sure how to spell his name, Rebellin and Di Luca. Not good for Italian cycling.

knasen wrote:
Home, On with EuroSport, and the first thing I here is "We have news from UCI, a big Giro rider has tested positive fore CERA two times" and like 3min later they finally say the name.