Di Luca may be out of the Worlds

Di Luca is still under investigation in the Oil for Drugs program and it may spell an early end to his hopes of riding in the road race on Sunday, in Stuttgart. While Bettini will very likely ride the event, even though he didn't sign the UCI declaration ahead of the World Championships in Stuttgart, Di Luca may have to watch the race on TV on Sunday.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the antidoping section of CONI, the national Olympic committee of Italy, is meeting today. The head of the anti-doping section, Ettore Torri, has already stated on August 22 that Di Luca should not be in the Worlds.

The Oil for Drug investigation identified Di Luca as a client of the doctor Carlo Santuccione. Since he is not a doctor approved by the cycling federation, this carries a stop of competition for three months, which will put Di Luca at risk of not riding Sunday, and effectively end his season.