Mauro Santambrogio could well be cooperating with the International Cycling Union (UCI) over his positive test for EPO at last year’s Giro d’Italia, Gazzetta dello Sport reports, as he faces a possible two-year ban from competition. Despite rumours reported in September, La Gazzetta also reports that the 29-year-old’s B-sample was not in fact “borderline”, but confirmed the positive test.
Santambrogio tested positive after an apparently random control on May 4th, after the first stage of the Giro d’Italia. The result was not announced until June 3rd, however, which gave the then Vini Fantini-Selle Italia rider time to win the 14th stage of the race and finish ninth overall.
His positive test was the second for the yellow fluo team, after Danilo Di Luca also failed a test for EPO in a pre-race test. The Killer has since been handed a life ban for what was his third doping offence; although only a second under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Details of Santambrogio’s current situation are unconfirmed, however, with La Gazzetta unable to conclusively state that the Italian is speaking to the UCI. It does claim that “reliable sources” have confirmed it to be the case, however. He currently faces a two-year ban if convicted for EPO use though, and so cooperation with the authorities would be a likely course if he hopes to reduce this sentence and one day return to the sport.
Were Santambrogio not cooperating with anti-doping authorities it’s likely that his case would have been heard by the anti-doping tribunal of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) by now, with his sentence either passed down or - in the case of his B-sample actually being negative or inconclusive - his name cleared. The fact that this has not happened yet might be a clear indicator that he is in the process of bargaining for a lighter sentence.
If, however, Santambrogio is not cooperating fully, or to the satisfaction of the UCI and CONI, his case will likely be heard very soon, with a long ban handed down.