 Di Luca in 2005 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Danilo Di Luca |
| Nickname | The Killer from Spoltore |
| Born | 2 January 1976 Spoltore, Italy |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | 61 kg (134 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Suspended |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Climber/Puncheur |
| Professional teams | |
| 1998 | Riso Scotti |
| 1999–2001 | Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio |
| 2002–2004 | Saeco–Longoni Sport |
| 2005–2007 | Liquigas–Bianchi |
| 2008–2009 | LPR Brakes–Ballan |
| 2011 | Team Katusha |
| 2012 | Acqua & Sapone |
| 2013 | Vini Fantini–Selle Italia |
| Major wins | |
Grand Tours
Other | |
Danilo Di Luca (born 2 January 1976) is a former Italian professional road racing cyclist, best known for winning the 2007 Giro d'Italia, but also for several positive doping tests, the last of which resulting in a lifetime ban from the sport.
Di Luca is also one of six riders to have won each of the three Ardennes classics; he won the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne in 2005, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2007. During his career, Di Luca rode for the Riso Scotti, Cantina Tollo–Acqua & Sapone, Saeco, Liquigas, LPR Brakes–Farnese Vini, Team Katusha, Acqua & Sapone and Vini Fantini–Selle Italia squads.[1][2][3]
Di Luca's career was also dogged by numerous infractions, involving three suspensions in relation to doping. In 2007, Di Luca was suspended for three months towards the end of the season, for visiting previously banned doctor Carlo Santuccione, which later escalated into the Oil for Drugs case.[4] In 2009, at the Giro d'Italia, Di Luca tested positive on two occasions[5] for CERA,[6] and was given a backdated – to July 2009 – two-year ban in February 2010, which was later reduced to nine months.[7][8] His third positive test came just before the 2013 Giro d'Italia, when he tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition test.[9] Di Luca expressed surprise at the test results,[10] but he was given a lifetime ban in December 2013.[11]
Danilo Di Luca wrote his autobiography Bestie da Vittoria, which means "Beasts for victories". Such book is also a denunciation of the use of doping substances among cyclists and the use of anti-doping controls as a way to manipulate competition results.
- ^ "Di Luca Set To Ride For Free With One Year Katusha Deal". Cyclingnews.com. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Di Luca confirms Acqua & Sapone for 2012". Cycling News. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ "Di Luca signs with Vini Fantini-Selle Italia". Cycling News. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ "Di Luca given doping suspension". BBC Sport. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ Susan Westemeyer (12 August 2009). "LPR Brakes Fires Di Luca Over Doping Charges". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ Cyclingnews (22 July 2009). "Di Luca positive for CERA in Giro". Cycling News. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Di Luca given two-year suspension for Giro CERA doping". Cyclingnews.com. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Di Luca free to race after CONI reduce ban". Cyclingnews.com. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ Fotheringham, William (24 May 2013). "Danilo Di Luca faces lifetime ban after testing positive for EPO". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Di Luca "surprised" by positive test for EPO". Cyclingnews.com. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ "Danilo Di Luca banned from cycling for life after committing third doping offence". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.