Mauro Santambrogio tests positive for testosterone

Italian Mauro Santambrogio tested positive for testosterone on October 22, 2014, just before finishing his EPO doping ban. The UCI, which gave Santambrogio a reduced ban for cooperating with its reform commission, announced the result today.

Cycling's governing body said that the 30-year-old may request a B sample analysis and that meanwhile, he is provisionally suspended.

Santambrogio, racing in team Vini Fantini's yellow colours, won the Bardonecchia summit finish stage and placed ninth overall at the 2013 Giro d'Italia. One week after the race, the UCI announced he tested positive for EPO on the race's first day.

He signed a contract in November with third division team, Amore & Vita. He told Italy's Tutto Bici website at the time, “I've learnt that there's no use in trying to cheat."

In the same Giro, team-mate Danilo Di Luca failed an EPO test. The team known as Neri Sottoli nearly stopped due to the cases. Santambrogio came close to suicide in October 2013, announcing his intent on Twitter.

The cyclist from Lake Como confessed and cooperated with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC). After doing so, the UCI reduced his ban from four years to 18 months and cleared the way for his return with Amore & Vita.

Santambrogio raced with teams Lampre and BMC, where he helped Cadel Evans ride in yellow at the Tour de France. BMC Racing cut ties with him in 2012 after difficult period that saw him named in the Mantova investigation in northern Italy.

The rider tweeted a message about beginning again in January, which reads "Starting over from scratch, WE TOGETHER !!!"