De Bonis positive for EPO

Francesco De Bonis (Diquigiovanni) rides in the Giro d'Italia

Francesco De Bonis (Diquigiovanni) rides in the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Italian Francesco De Bonis tested positive for third generation Erythropoietin (EPO), CERA, before the Giro d'Italia, according to news agency RCD today. Testers took the control May 7, two days before the 2009 Giro d'Italia started in Venice.

Team Diquigiovanni suspended De Bonis, 27, from racing June 18. It made the decision after the International Cycling Union's (UCI) biological passport system showed abnormal anti-doping samples. The UCI published its results June 17, releasing the names of De Bonis, Pietro Caucchioli, Ricardo Serrano, Igor Astarloa and Rubén Lobato.

De Bonis became a professional with Gerolsteiner in 2008. He won his first and only race in Switzerland that year, a stage of the Tour de Romandie, May 3, 2008.

It was his last race with Gerolsteiner, who refused to field him in races. De Bonis "did not fit in well with the team," said Gerolsteiner's team manager, Hans-Michael Holczer, at the time.

Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1