Del Puppo fired

Italian rider Nicola Del Puppo has now been fired from the Marchiol-Ima-Famila team after failing an out of competition blood test (Australian protocol) conducted by the Italian cycling federation (FCI). Del Puppo was due to participate in the Mediterranean Games in Spain, but has now earned himself a 45 day suspension from the FCI and dismissal from the team, which had suspended him on a provisional basis yesterday.

Another rider from Team Marchiol-Ima-Famila, Alex De Bastiani, has also been suspended after failing a health check, but the team will wait to verify his blood values before firing him.