ROME (AP) — Former world champion cyclist Alessandro Ballan has been banned for two years for doping.
The Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping court announced the decision on Friday after Ballan was indicted on doping charges by a general court in Mantova for alleged team-wide drug use by the Lampre team.
Ballan won the road race at the 2008 worlds in Varese.
He maintained in a hearing on Thursday that he used banned drugs to treat an illness.
Ballan is banned to Jan. 16, 2016, and thus could end the 34-year-old rider’s career.
Also, Mantova pharmacist Guido Nigrelli was banned for life from sports activity and physician Fiorenzo Egeo Bonazzi was banned for four years.
Ballan already served a temporary suspension from the BMC squad during the Mantova court case, which is still proceeding.
