53 year-old gran fondo rider and bike mechanic Ersilio “The Hyena” Fantini has been suspended from the sport for 4 years by the Italian anti-doping agency NADO.

It is the Italian’s second doping suspension after testing positive for EPO in 2008 at Gran Fondo Alta Valle del Tevere, which he won.

As one of Italy’s top amateur riders, Fantini has won Gran Fondo San Marino (2012, 2007), Gran Fondo Leopardiana, Giro di Sardegna and finished on the podium four times at Nove Colli Gran Fondo (2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd).  As recently as 2018 at age 50 he finished an almost-to-good-to-be-true 16th at Gran Fondo Via del Sale.

NADO has not release details of Fantini’s latest suspension, but a 4 year ban is typically handed down when anti-doping rule violations are judged to be intentional usage, trafficking, administration or complicity.

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