Di Luca tests positive

Paris - Giro runner-up Danilo Di Luca has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood booster CERA, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday.

"Earlier today, the UCI advised Italian rider Danilo Di Luca that he is provisionally suspended," the UCI said in a statement.

"The decision to provisionally suspend Mr Di Luca was made in response to a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Paris indicating an Adverse Analytical Finding of Recombinant EPO (CERA) in blood samples collected from him at the Giro d'Italia on 20 May and 28 May 2009."

Di Luca, 33, won two stages in this year's Giro.

He faces a two-year suspension from the sport should his B sample return positive.