Former Giro d'Italia stage winner's 20-year ban for doping violations at junior squad
The more usual four-year ban was drastically increased due to the involvement of young riders
Former Giro d'Italia stage winner Danilo Napolitano has been handed a 20-year ban for doping violations committed during his time with the prestigious junior team, Salus Ciclista Seregno. The club, known for its elite riders, saw two of its key figures, Napolitano and former president Marco Moretto, receive severe penalties. Moretto was barred for eight years, while Napolitano, now 45, will be suspended until April 7, 2046.
Both had been provisionally suspended earlier this year, with final verdicts recently announced. Napolitano, who raced professionally from 2004 to 2017 across teams like Katusha and Lampre, won the 2007 Giro d'Italia and three editions of the Coppa Bernocchi. He was charged under articles 2.6 and 2.8 of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) code, which cover possession of prohibited substances and administration of prohibited methods.
The amplified ban is attributed to the youth-focused nature of Salus Ciclista Seregno. The club, currently fielding a strong squad for the upcoming Tour de France Femmes, has denied any involvement in Napolitano's doping links.
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