Two Italian cyclists banned following doping violations
One was an amateur time trial champion

Two Italian amateur cyclists have been banned following doping violations.
Italian cycling time trial champion Francesco Pesciaioli has been handed a four-year ban for evading a test, Italy's anti-doping agency NADO Italia announced, while another rider also returned an adverse analytical finding.
Daniele Lazzari, an amateur Masters cyclist returned a positive test for methylprednisolone at the Gran Fondo Pinarello e della Marca Trevigiana, having finished second in the Tricolore di Fontanelle, the amateur national championships, a month earlier, that result now stripped from his record.
Methylprednisolone is a steroid five times as potent as cortisol and is normally used to relieve inflammation in the treatment of certain forms of arthritis.
Lazarri has been given a 10-month from September 7 to July 6 2022, while Pesciaioli's ban for evading a doping test results is a four-year ban, running from October 7 until October 6 2025.
In the wake of his ban, Pesciaioli has posted numerous times on his Instagram account, which has nearly 16,000 followers, with one photo captioned: "Today I stop running away from the past, today is the day in which the accounts are made". Another reads: "The more one judges, the less one loves".
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"The National Anti-Doping Prosecutor, deciding in the disciplinary procedure against the athlete Francesco Pesciaioli, FCI member, affirms the responsibility of the aforementioned for the violation of article 2.3," read a statement from NADO. "And applies them...the disqualification for 4 years with the cancellation of any sporting results and the other consequences applicable from 7 October 2021."
Earlier this week, an amateur rider in the United States of America was also handed a doping ban after winning a third-category race at the Arizona State Championships.
Matt McWhirter, 49, tested positive for testosterone or its precursors and has now been banned from competition for four years by USADA.
He has been stripped of all results from June 19 2021 and will have to forfeit any medals, points or prizes acquired since that date.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Grab this Peacock 12-month subscription deal fast - get a year's worth of pro cycling coverage, including the Tour de France, for just $29.99
Deals You can save a whopping $50 on one of the best US streaming services for cycling plus a ton of other sports, but you'll have to be quick- it ends soon
By Paul Brett Published
-
Teams withdraw from French stage race after 'unacceptable' incidents with cars
Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-EasyPost cite safety concerns in pulling out of Étoile de Bessèges
By Tom Davidson Published
-
French cyclist given 10-month suspended prison sentence for doping
Marion Sicot said doping formed "an integral part" of cycling
By Tom Davidson Published
-
French cyclist faces suspended prison sentence and €5,000 fine in doping trial
Marion Sicot, who admitted to taking EPO in 2019, is currently on trial in France
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Steroids found in pro cyclist’s anti-doping test sample
Antwan Tolhoek has been provisionally suspended by the UCI while proceedings are ongoing
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-