Italian cyclist Danilo Di Luca, currently competing at the 96th Giro d’Italia, tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition test before the race, a report said on Friday.
Di Luca, who has already served a ban for failing a doping test at the Giro and has been embroiled in other doping affairs, tested positive for the banned blood booster at the end of April, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Di Luca was without a contract at the start of the season but managed to sign for the second division team Vini Fantini, who were assured a place in the three-week race.
Despite having only two days of racing in his legs, the 37-year-old Di Luca was called into the team in time for the May 4 start in Naples. Although he has failed to win a stage or challenge for overall honours, Di Luca has often been seen on the attack.
Di Luca finished 10th in Thursday’s uphill time trial behind stage winner and overall race leader Vincenzo Nibali, who now has a 4min 02sec over his closest rival, Australian Cadel Evans, with two stages to race. The Italian sits in 26th place overall at just over 33min behind Nibali.
According to Gazzetta, whose parent company RCS owns and organises the race, Di Luca tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition test at his home on April 29.