PARIS, Sept 14, 2009 (AFP) – Cycling’s world ruling body on Monday suspended Italian Maurizio Biondo, of the Ceramica Flaminia team, for doping after an adverse finding for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin).

Biondo won the time trial at last month’s Tour of Denmark, where he finished second overall.

A statement from the UCI (International Cycling Union) on Monday said: “The UCI today advised Italian rider Maurizio Biondo that he is provisionally suspended.

“The decision … was made in response to a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Lausanne indicating an Adverse Analytical Finding of EPO (NESP) in a blood sample collected from him in an out-of-competition test on 12 August 2009.”

The suspension will remain in force “until a hearing panel convened by the Italian Cycling Federation determines whether he has indeed committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules”.

Biondo has the right to ask for a B sample to be tested.

File Photo by: CorVos Pro