Ex-Pro Danilo Napolitano Banned 20 Years in Doping Case Linked to Italian Junior Team

Former Giro d’Italia stage winner Danilo Napolitano has been banned for 20 years by Italy’s anti-doping authorities in a case linked to one of the country’s leading junior cycling teams.

The suspension sidelines Napolitano until April 7, 2046, although NADO Italia did not explain why it imposed such an unusually lengthy ban.

Italy’s anti-doping tribunal also handed former team president Marco Moretto an eight-year ban, barring him from the sport until April 7, 2034.

Both men were provisionally suspended in April pending disciplinary proceedings.

NADO Italia released no details, and the sanctions were later published on the Italian Cycling Federation’s official website without further explanation.

When announcing the provisional suspensions this spring, NADO Italia said Napolitano faced alleged violations of Articles 2.6 and 2.8 of the World Anti-Doping Code, covering possession and administration, or attempted administration, of prohibited substances.

Moretto was charged with alleged violations of Articles 2.9 and 3.1, relating to complicity and the applicable standard of proof.

The case centers on Salus Ciclistica Seregno ASD, one of northern Italy’s leading junior development teams, where Napolitano worked as a coach, according to TuttoBici.

Napolitano raced professionally from 2004 to 2017, winning a Giro d’Italia stage and Coppa Bernocchi during his career.

Neither Napolitano, Moretto nor Salus Ciclistica Seregno ASD have publicly commented on the sanctions.

NADO Italia has not disclosed further details about the case or the conduct underlying the penalties.