The Italian Olympic Committee recently announced that former world champion pole vaulter Giuseppe Gibilisco faces a two-year ban for doping. Gibilisco, who maintains his innocence in the matter, won gold at the 2003 world championships and took bronze a year later at the Athens Olympics.
The accusations against him come as a result of a wider probe into the activities of Italian sports doctor Carlo Santuccione. Prominent cyclists are also allegedly among Santuccione’s list of patients.
This year’s Giro D’Italia winner, Danilo Di Luca, is currently being investigated for alleged drug use by the committee, which is the governing body of all sport in Italy. Recently, 2006 Giro winner, Ivan Basso, was given a two-year ban for his involvement in the Operacion Puerto doping scandal. Other athletes accused include two Italian soccer players: Messina goalkeeper Nicholas Caglioni and Sampdoria striker Francesco Flachi were banned for cocaine use last year.
