Mauro Santambrogio may be on his way back to the professional peloton already in 2014. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the former Vini Fantini rider is cooperating with the UCI which could lead to a reduced sanction for his positive EPO test at the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

Mauro Santambrogio experienced a lovely time at the start of the 2013 season. After several years of hard work as a domestique at the BMC team, the Italian had assumed a leadership role at the Vini Fantini team and he took the world by storm in the early part of the year.

He came out with all guns blazing already at the Tour de San Luis and went on to feature near the top in several Italian one-day races before finishing in the top 10 in the Tirreno-Adriatico and as runner-up in the Giro del Trentino. After winning the GP Industria & Artigianato, he broke through as a grand tour rider by winning a stage and finishing 9th in the Giro d'Italia.

However, his career started to unravel just a few days after the conclusion of the Italian grand tour. Santambrogio had returned a positive test for EPO already on the first day and was sacked by his Vini Fantini team.

Usually, Santambrogio will be handed a two-year ban for his offence but the Italian may return to the peloton already before the end of the season that is just about to start. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he is cooperating with the UCI, giving evidence that can be useful for the international federation in the anti-doping fight.

Previously, riders like Danilo Di Luca and Riccardo Ricco have received reduced sanctions for anti-doping rule violations and Santambrogio is hopeful that a ban starting at the date of the announcement of his team will allow him to be back in the peloton before the end of the year.

It was earlier reported that Santambrogio's B sample could not be declared positive but no news have emerged on that matter. After being ousted by the cycling world, Santambrogio indicated on Twitter that he would commit suicide but a strong reaction from his followers convinced him not to go ahead with his plans.

The Italian anti-doping authorities are expected to make a decision in the case in mid-January.