News for November 14, 1999

Fabiana Luperini positive

Yet another cycling star has tested positive to a banned substance. This time it is the Italian champion, Fabiana Luperini who returned a positive test to the steroid nandrolone at the Tour of Venezia on October 2. This was one week before the world championships in Verona, where she managed a dashing 46th.

According to Italian newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, the analyses were submitted to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) by a laboratory in Spain, who were in charge of the testing. If the B sample is also found to contain the substance, then Luperini faces at least a 6 month suspension according to the Italian Cycling Federation.

25 year-old Luperini, who is a triple Tour de France and quadruple Giro d'Italia winner, denied that she had taken anything illegal.

McEwen to marry

Courtesy of Graham Fowler

27 year old Australian sprinter, Robbie McEwen will marry his Belgian girlfriend Angelique Pattyn today, November 14th. McEwen will marry Angelique at a Catholic church on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Signings

Banesto may be signing Polish rider Tomasz Brozyna (29), according to an agreement reached between the rider and the team recently.

Brozyna first became professional in 1995m and in 1996 and 1997 he rode with the US Postal squad. In 1998 and 1999, he switched to Polish team MROZ, gaining his best results - 1st in the 1998 Polish National Road Race Championship, and first in this year's Tour of Poland

Mauro Bartoli, Michele's younger brother, who rode in his first season this year with Riso Scotti-Vinavil has signed with Amore & Vita-Beretta.