UPDATE 1 August 2024: Di Salvo has been banned 12 years by NADO Italia.

The Italian National Anti-Doping Court has preliminarily suspended cyclist Giuseppe Di Salvo (GDS TEAM COMPETITION) for a third time, after he allegedly returned an anti-doping positive test result for the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO). The test was ordered and performed by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO Italia).

The 40 year-old former professional road racer (2011-2012 Miche-Guerciotti) finished second at the Gran Fondo Città di Ragusa on 2 May in Sicily.

In 2018 Di Salvo was preliminarily suspended by NADO Italia after allegedly testing positive for Triamcinolone Acetonide at Gran Fondo Marineo, according to PianetaMTB. In addition, he was suspended for two-years after testing positive for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HGC) at Giro delle Tre Provinces in 2007 as reported by TuttoBiciWeb.it.

On top of those two previous doping suspensions Di Salvo was stripped of an amateur masters UCI World Championship gold medal won at Llubjlana, Slovenia in 2014 when he violated rules by participating, and winning, without presenting an Italian National Cycling Federation (FCI) license, as announced in an FCI News Release.

EPO is a drug banned at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It dramatically improves performance for endurance athletes like cyclists by increasing red blood cell production, which then carries significantly more oxygen to the body’s muscles.

Photo Credit: stock

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