COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 24, 2004) - The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Friday that Joseph D’Antoni of Raleigh, N.C., an athlete in the sport of cycling, tested positive at the Track World Cup Qualifier on Feb. 26, 2004.
He tested positive for recombinant human Erythropoietin (rEPO), a prohibited substance under the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is the international federation for the sport of cycling.
rEPO is a synthetic hormone that stimulates the body’s production of red blood cells thereby increasing oxygen transport and aerobic power.
D’Antoni, 27, accepted a two-year suspension from all sanctioned competition in accordance with the rules of UCI. His suspension begins on Sept. 22, 2004, the date that he accepted the sanction.
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States, and will carry out the sanction.
This is the 28th announcement issued by USADA during 2004. USADA became the independent anti-doping agency for U.S. athletes for the Olympic movement in October 2000.
USADA is the independent anti-doping agency for Olympic sports in the United States, and is responsible for managing the testing and adjudication process for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am and Paralympic athletes. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
FOR MEDIA ONLY: For additional information, please contact USADA Director, Communications and Public Affairs Rich Wanninger at 719-785-2009 or via email at rwanninger@usantidoping.org. The official USADA web site is www.usantidoping.org.
This Article Published 2004-09-24 15:45:11
For more information contact:
USA Cycling is a family of organizations that promote and govern
different disciplines of the sport, and that work as one
to build the sport of bicycle racing, assist with athlete development and
sustain international competitive excellence.
