Italian cyclist given 20-year ban

Former Liquigas rider Gianni Da Ros has been handed a 20-year ban for drug offences by Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal.

The 22-year-old was one of several people arrested by police in March after an 18-month doping investigation.

Da Ros was suspended by the Liquigas team at the time and no longer features on the team's roster of riders.

Amateur riders, gym staff, physios and drug suppliers were also caught up in the Milan state prosecutor's crackdown.

Da Ros was arrested while training with Italy's national track cycling team in Padua.

Besides doping himself, he was also accused of providing performance enhancing drugs to two amateur cyclists.

Also on Monday, the Italian National Olympic Committee (Coni) banned two other cyclists for doping - Davide Lucato received an eight-year sentence and Albino Corazzin was suspended for two years.