The way is now officially open for “the Killer” to race again
It appears that Danilo Di Luca has now officially paid his dues, literally, with the announcement from the International Cycling Union (UCI) that the Italian has paid the fine of €173,600 that it required to endorse his return from suspension.
“UCI announces Danilo Di Luca has paid the totally of his fine, i.e. 173.600 Euro,” reads a statement from Enrico Carpani, the UCI’s chief press officer. “He’s eligible again for competition, under the condition to pay 8.000 Euro of procedural costs by 11 February.”
Di Luca’s fine is levied under new regulations brought in after January 1st 2009, which state that as well as serving time away from the sport all convicted dopers will be liable for a fine of up to 70% of their annual salary. Under this rule the UCI can legally prevent a rider from returning to racing, even if they have served their time.
This fine differs form the one it tried to levy from a number of riders, including Alexandre Vinokourov, as the “commitment for a new cycling” that all riders were required to sign before the 2007 Tour de France was ruled by the Court for Arbitration in Sport was of little legal value.
The Italian’s apparent willingness to pay is the latest act by an apparently contrite Di Luca, who confessed to doping in front of a 500-strong crowd of students last December.
The 35-year-old tested positive for CERA, the third-generation EPO, in the 2009 Giro d’Italia, which he had finished in second place. He was initially given a two-year sentence, but this was shortened to 15 months after he collaborated with drug trafficking police.
This had been Di Luca’s second offence, having been previously suspended for 3 months for his involvement in the “Oil for Drugs” scandal, but he escaped a life ban due to the offence taking place in 2004, before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code was adopted.
Provided that Di Luca pays the addition €8,000 required by the UCI, he will start racing for his new Katusha team at the Mallorca Challenge this weekend.