UPDATE 14 February 2025: NADO Italia announced Bergozza is banned for 3 years, until July 2027.

The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) Disciplinary List shows 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Giuseppina Michela Bergozza (ASD SCATENATI) banned for 3 years after testing positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), although NADO Italia has yet to announced the sanction.

In 2024 Bergozza finished second overall at Granfondo Squali, only loosing to a 33 year-old former pro, and then won an Italian National Gran Fondo Championship title at Gran Fondo Terre dei Varano by 23 minutes in June.

In July she tested positive test for EPO.

Long considered one of the top masters racers on the Italian women’s gran fondo circuit, in 2022 the 55 year-old dominated the UCI World Gran Fondo Championship race (W50-54) from start to finish, winning by five minutes in Trento, Italy.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is prohibited at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as it significantly increases red blood cell production, thereby creating an unfair advantage for endurance athletes by delivering significantly more oxygen to muscles.

Bergozza’s ban from participating in sport in any capacity end 14 July 2027.

Photo Credit: NADO Italia

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