FCI turns screws tight on dopers

The Italian cycling federation (FCI) responded to a month littered with doping news by tightening the disciplinarily actions against cyclists who test positive, including a lifetime ban from the squadra azzurra.

Italian cycling was shocked the most by the four doping cases of the Tour de France. One of its rising young stars, Riccardo Riccò, tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) after winning two stages during the race. To make matters worse, Italy had to deal with the cases of Marta Bastianelli, Paolo Bossoni and Giovanni Carini.