Italian cyclist Mattia Gavazzi has tested positive for cocaine for the third time in his career and could now face a lifetime ban, according to Reuters.
The Italian previously served bans for positive cocaine tests in 2004 and 2010. On the first occasion, he was riding as an amateur and was ordered to undergo rehabilitation. On the second occasion, he tested positive during the Settimana Lombarda, receiving a six year ban which was reduced to two and a half due to his cooperation with the investigation.
The Amore & Vita-Selle SMP rider, 32, has since failed another test at the Tour of Qinghai Lake in 2015 and under UCI regulations, a third anti-doping violation triggers a ban of between eight years and life. After testing positive on stage 6, Gavazzi went on to win stages 8, 10, 11 and 13.
The UCI has also today announced that its anti-doping tribunal has made its decision in the case involving Luca Paolini. The Italian has been banned for 18 months following a positive test for cocaine at last year’s Tour de France.
8 thoughts on “Mattia Gavazzi could face lifetime ban after third positive test for cocaine”
Amore & Vita on drugs NEVER!
Amore & Vita on drugs NEVER!!!
It’s like Studio 54 out there
It’s like Studio 54 out there!
Christ almighty, surely there
Christ almighty, surely there are more appropriate drugs to be using!
I hadn’t realised that
I hadn’t realised that cocaine was a performance enhancing drug; I’d always assumed that it was more of a party drug, and therefore if he had it in his system it wasn’t anything to do with the racing but more to do with his heavy night out, the night before. When, presumably, he was off the clock as far as the team goes. (OK, still using an illegal class A drug, but that’s a matter for the police not the sporting authorities, surely?).
brooksby wrote:
I’ve always thought that, but then then talk about role model and that, but if you didn’t test fpr it,. no one would know.
Also all they keep doing is publicising the fact that drugs don’t stop you being a professional athlete, so the effct on the body can’t be that bad.
Mind you in the pro pelton at 50mph down an alpine descent, I wouldn’t want the guy behind or beside me to be high.
wycombewheeler wrote:
I guess. I hadn’t thought about it like that…
Just Google “pot belge”..
Just Google “pot belge”..
barbarus wrote:
Its got its own wikipedia entry! Urggh.