Di Luca risks exclusion from cycling worlds for doping

Photo: Di Luca risks exclusion from cycling worlds for doping

Danilo Di Luca, Giro d'Italia champion, risks to be excluded from road race at the world championships for the new inquiries into his alleged links with doping.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) found abnormal results in a surprise test taken during Di Luca's Giro win in June and is awaiting lab analysis from other controls taken by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for comparison purposes.

CONI has been waiting for the UCI test results for three months and said it received an explanation from the UCI that Di Luca's consent was required before divulging the findings.

CONI is also planning to monitor a court hearing in Pescara on Thursday concerning the four-year-old doping investigation known as the "Oil for Drugs" case.

On July 12, Di Luca was cleared of involvement by CONI in the case, but new evidence has reportedly surfaced.

The "Oil for Drugs" case centers on Di Luca and several other athletes who allegedly receiving doping products from Italian doctor Carlo Santuccione.

Di Luca has always denied doping.

"It's the usual stuff. I'm absolutely calm," Di Luca was quoted as saying in Wednesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "There is no evidence against me. Not any. The hearing Thursday in Pescara? It will be dismissed."

Di Luca is a key member of Italy's team at the worlds in Stuttgart, Germany. The team has already come under criticism because defending champion Paolo Bettini refused to sign an anti-doping pledge.