Di Luca's case continues

Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri heard Guido Mariani and Rossano D'Intino in light of new information that there may have been blood stored in thermal containers for Danilo Di Luca. Torri is continuing with the Oil for Drugs investigation of 2004, but took time yesterday to hear the two Forest department agents.

The two agents clarified that there were no blood bags sequestered last fall. Alessio Starnieri claimed to have information of thermal containers of blood kept by Di Luca's brother, Altobrando. Neither Altobrando Di Luca nor Starnieri was heard yesterday.

Torri is expected to pass on his recommendation for shelving or disciplinarily action to the Italian cycling federation (FCI) before the close of this month. The decision will have an obvious impact on Di Luca's participation in the World Championships, September 30.

For more details on the Oil for Drugs, read NAS blitz nets nada and NAS raid Giro again from 2004.