The Italian National Anti-Doping Prosecutor has banned 39 year-old amateur cyclist Francesco Pesciaioli (Cicli Copparo – Crainox) for 4 years after the 2021 Italian Masters Time Trial Champion evaded, refused and failed to submit a biological sample for testing after being informed to do so by officials – a World Anti-Doping Agency Article 2.3 violation. 

“Today I stop running away from the past, today is the day in which the accounts are made,” he posted on Instagram after the ban was announced. 

Pesciaioli won the 2021 Italian Masters Time Trial Championship and an Italian Tricolore National Championship jersey in May on the island of Sicily.  He completed the individual time trial route with a time of 0:23:16 at an average of over 48 kilometres per hour. 

Pesciaioli’s is banned from competing in all sports from 7 October 2021 until 6 October 2025.

PHOTOS: file

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