Former Giro d'Italia winner Danilo di Luca issued with lifetime ban

Former Giro d'Italia winner Danilo di Luca has received a life ban from cycling after committing a third career doping offence.

The 37-year-old's fate was decided by the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping court following a hearing today.

Di Luca tested positive for EPO in a random drug test in April this year, which was just five days before the Giro d'Italia.

The sportsman served a three-month ban in 2007 for visiting a banned physician a number of times, and later served a 15-month ban after testing positive in 2009.

The Vini Fantini-Selle Italia squad sacked Di Luca when his third positive drug test was revealed.