Caucchioli suspended for doping

Caucchioli's ban will expire on 17 June 2011

Italian Pietro Caucchioli has become the latest rider to be banned under the ruling of the International Cycling Union's biological passport programme.

Caucchioli, 34, was given a two-year suspension and a fine by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

Last week, Francesco De Bonis became the first cyclist to be punished for doping under the UCI programme.

Biological passports, which record and chart blood and urine levels, were introduced in 2008.

Since then eight riders have recorded abnormal blood profiles but De Bonis and Caucchioli are the only two to have received bans.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Caucchioli's ban

Caucchioli was suspended by his Lampre team last year after it was revealed he was showing abnormal values in the system.

In confirming his ban, a UCI statement read: "The UCI announces that following its request for proceedings against the Italian rider Pietro Caucchioli for a breach of the Anti-Doping Rules on the basis of his biological passport, the National Anti-Doping Tribunal of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) has decided to sanction the rider by a two-year suspension."

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