Two riders out of Giro d'Italia after failing dope tests

Stefano Pirazzi and Nicola Ruffoni of Bardiani-CSF test positive for growth hormone at the end of April. Whole team now faces suspension

On the eve of the Giro, Stefano Pirazzi (left) and Nicola Ruffoni (right) of Bardiani-CSF were both evicted from the race after testing positive for growth hormones. The pair were later suspended from the team after positive B samples.

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

On the eve of the 100th Giro d'Italia, news broke that two riders from professional continental team Bardiani-CSF failed an anti-doping test. Confirmation of the doping positives emerged on Thursday evening from the UCI and the team, just 12 hours before the race pushes off from Alghero, Sardinia.

Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi, two riders in Bardiani's nine-man team, returned positive tests from out-of-competition samples taken ahead of the three-week race on April 25 and 26 respectively

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the