Amateur cyclist Samuele Merli (PROGRAMMA AUTO) of Italy allegedly failed an anti-doping test for the prohibited substance EPO (Erythropoietin), according to a news release by the Italian National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO Italia).

The 30 year-old has now been provisionally suspended after being charged with two World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code violations: 2.1 Presence of a prohibited substance and 2.2 Use of a prohibited substance.

NADO Italia did not disclose if the test was performed in-competition or out-of-competition, but recent online results show Merli finished second from a field of 550 in the medio competition at L’Etape by Tour de France Parma on 4 May. He also had podium appearances at Voghera-Brallo and Medio Fondo Piemonte.

In addition to a ban from sport, if found guilty of the doping charges Merli may be required to pay L’Etape Parma €50,000 according to the following event regulations:

“In the event of a positive result in the anti-doping tests carried out at the Gran Fondo L’ETAPE PARMA by Tour de France, or a positive result ascertained in the 6 (six) months following it, the Organization reserves the right to cite the competitor in the appropriate venues for the serious damage caused to the image of the event, requesting the sum of € 50,000.00 (fifty thousand euros/00) as compensation for the damage suffered.”

EPO is banned at all times by WADA and is easily detected via standard anti-doping tests. It has a long history of use by athletes to increase one’s red blood cell mass, which allows the body to move more oxygen to muscles and thus significantly increase physical performance.

Photo Credit: Facebook/letapeitaly

© 2019-2025 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily