Riccardo Riccò's partner Vania Rossi has tested positive for EPO CERA, the Italian Olympic Committee announced via its website on Friday.
The Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI) carried out the test after Rossi finished second in the Italian women's national cyclo-cross championships on January 10.
CERA is the latest generation of the blood boosting drug erythropoietin. Riccò tested positive for the same banned substance during the 2008 Tour de France.
Rossi recently gave birth to their child - a boy - but quickly made a successful return to cyclo-cross racing. On Thursday Rossi was not named in the Italian team for this weekend's world cyclo-cross championships 'for health reasons'. She is expected to be suspended by CONI before the analysis of her B sample is carried out.
Riccò is set to return with the Flaminia team this season when his 20-month doping ban ends on March 17.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
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
Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and Cycling Weekly, among other publications.