Former Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò banned for life

He was currently serving a 12-year sanction,

According to the newspaper As, the Italian ex-cyclist Riccardo Ricco has been sanctioned for life by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO).

They have sanctioned him for "illicit trade in prohibited substances and/or methods" between 2015 and 2017.

With this, it is the third punishment he receives, where he is currently serving a 12-year sanction, imposed in 2012 for undergoing an autotransfusion

The events date back to 2015

In 2015, Riccò fuand accused of trying to buy EPO and testosterone after being caught in the act by the Italian police with two traffickers in a Livorno car park.

Although he no longer has a license to compete, the NADO with this car prohibits him from having it again, and he will have to pay a fine of 4.000 euros, plus 378 in costs.

In 2008 he had his moment of glory

Riccò had his moment of glory in 2008, when he was second in the Giro d'Italia, with two stage victories included and the classification for the best youngster.

Shortly thereafter, when he was running in ninth place in the Tour de France and had added another two wins, a positive by EPO removed the Italian and Saunier Duval, his team which lost their sponsorship, from the French race.

After serving a two-year ban, he returned in 2010, but a year later his career ended.

An autotransfusion almost ended his life

When he was a member of the Vacansoleil, the Italian was rushed to the hospital after allegedly carrying out an autotransfusion that almost ended his life.

 This led to a new twelve-year sanction for Riccò, who continued to ride his bicycle in a less professional way and even opened an ice cream parlor in Tenerife, although now he continues with the business in Italy.

There are no previous results.

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