A two year and eight month long ban has been requested by the Italian Anti-Doping Tribunal for Paolo Savoldelli, being accused of doping during his stint in the US Postal Service team during 2005 – 2006 seasons. The 40-year old Italian, retired six years ago, won his second Giro d’Italia title while riding in the outfit of the American team and was a part of the Tour de France squad which helped Armstrong win his ultimate title in 2005.

Savoldelli was accused of doping following a testimony from Tom Danielson during the US Anti-Doping Agency investigation into Armstrong and US Postal Service team. Danielson’s hearing resulted with the UCI and the Italian Olympic Committee requests to the Italian Anti-Doping Tribunal to pursue the case and as a consequence, the former Giro d’Italia champion will face a disciplinary hearing on May 13.

Danielson, riding for the Discovery Channel between 2005 and 2007, also faced a two-year ban for doping but his suspension was reduced to six months following his testimony and returned to racing with Garmin-Sharp in 2013.

During the USADA hearing in February, Danielson described the way of how the system for obtaining EPO during the 2006 Giro d’Italia was organized, when he rode in the same squad with Savoldelli.

However, the 40-year old Italia denied the possibility of being one of the redacted names in Danielson’s testimony, particularly the “Rider 1”, claiming that there was no communication between him and American cyclist.

“I went to Rider 1 and asked him if he could help me with EPO for the race but he said that he had only enough for himself,” Danielson said.

“Of course I know him, but I don’t know English and he doesn’t know Italian, so how could we have discussed it?” Savoldelli said of Danielson, according to the Italian Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“Danielson was given a two-year ban that was reduced to six months for collaborating, so what he says should be taken with a grain of salt. You only need to read his confession with intelligence to realise what it’s worth.”

Savoldelli didn’t deny his collaboration with Dr. Ferrari, but Ferrari but defended his reputation in spite of the weight of evidence that saw USADA hand him a lifetime ban in 2012.

“I collaborated with him in the past, but that was well-known and I didn’t hide it,” Savoldelli said.

“Michele Ferrari, as I know him, is the best trainer there is. I won’t put my hand in the fire, but as I know him, he was the best. I don’t know English, and I don’t know if that decision is right or wrong. If he has made mistakes, they will come out.”