By Gregor Brown
Giampaolo Caruso's (Lampre-Fondital) case in regards to his involvement in the Spanish Operación Puerto investigation has been deferred to the Italian cycling federation (FCI) Disciplinary Commission by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). CONI's anti-doping prosecutor, Ettore Torri, has requested that the 26 year-old be suspended for two years.
Caruso rode for Liberty Seguros and Astana in 2006 when he was linked with Operación Puerto and forced to stop riding. However, the Spanish federation authorized Caruso, winner of a 2003 Tour Down Under stage, to sign with Lampre for 2007 due to a lack of evidence.
Torri, who also oversaw the investigation of Ivan Basso that resulted in a two year suspension, pursued Caruso in Italy and recommend his suspension based on World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) codes for, "use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method" (Article 2.2).
Caruso is expected to meet with the FCI Disciplinary Commission in the coming days.
...and four for Muraglia
Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri has requested a four-year suspension for Giuseppe Muraglia and referred his case to the Italian cycling federation (FCI) Disciplinary Commission. The 27 year-old Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo rider was heard by CONI on June 13 and 19 regarding his positive test after winning March's 22nd Clasica de Almeria win and for related Oil for Drugs activities.
"I am very quiet and calm and I am waiting to clear things up with my team," Muraglia told Italian news agency ANSA.
Muraglia was recommend a two-year suspension for his Almeria test result, where he tested positive for HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), based on World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) codes for "the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete's bodily specimen" (Article 2.1). Torri requested an additional two years after the rider was linked to Doctor Carlo Santuccione in the 2004 investigation dubbed Oil for Drugs. CONI sited WADA's code for "use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method" (Article 2.2).
FCI Disciplinary Commission is expected to meet with Muraglia in the coming days.
