Rome - Riccardo Ricco has been suspended indefinitely by the Italian cycling federation for the good of his own health, the ruling body said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ricco was sacked by his Vacansoleil team in February after doctors said he had botched a self blood transfusion and nearly killed himself.
The 27-year-old, who initially said after his hospitalisation that he would quit cycling to become a barman before deciding to return, had signed for second tier Croatian team Meridiana-Kamen last week.
The Italian anti-doping body had already launched a new investigation into Ricco, who previously served a 20-month ban for doping at the 2008 Tour de France.