ROME, Nov 23, 2009 (AFP) – Italian cyclist Gianni Da Ros has been handed a record 20-year ban from the National Anti-doping Tribunal for trafficking doping substances.

The 23-year-old, who used to ride for Liquigas, was arrested in March in the northern city of Padua.

The investigation was ordered by the Milan state prosecutor and saw 12 people arrested as well as 64 searches of properties across the country.

Aside from Da Ros, amateur racers, physios, gym staff and traders were caught up in a doping dragnet launched 18 months ago following a television report entitled “Muscles and Doping”, which purported to show how athletes could obtain doping substances from traders.