The anti-doping prosecutor at the Italian Olympic Committee CONI is seeking a lifetime ban for Danilo Di Luca. The Italian tested positive for EPO prior to the Giro d'Italia and may now have to leave the sport for good as a second-time offender.

Danilo Di Luca's time as a professional cyclist may have come to an end. The anti-doping prosecutor at the Italian Olympic Committee has asked for the Italian to be handed a life-time ban.

Di Luca joined Vini Fantini in late April and only raced twice for the team prior to the Giro d'Italia after having been unable to find a team for the first part of the season following the demise of Acqua e Sapone. He tested positive for EPO on April 29 but raced most of the Italian grand tour until the result was announced on the morning of stage 20.

Di Luca has already twice faced sanctions for anti-doping violations. He was banned for three months in 2007 due his involvement in the Oil for Drugs investigation and received a reduced 9-month ban for his positive test for CERA in 2009 after cooperating with the authorities.

However, this time there is no leniency for the 2007 Giro d'Italia winner who will never return to competitive racing if the suspension if confirmed by the Italian Cycling Federation. At the same time, his Giro results are likely to be declared invalid.