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<\/p>\nAn Italian amateur cyclist tests positive for EPO for a second time in the latest doping scandal to rock gran fondo racing. <\/p>\n
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An Italian gran fondo rider is suspended after a positive test. (Photo: JOEL SAGET\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Updated May 5, 2026 10:16AM<\/p>\n
A high-profile EPO<\/a> case involving a top Italian amateur rider has reignited concerns over doping in Europe\u2019s booming gran fondo<\/a> scene.<\/p>\n Felice Giangregorio, 38, is provisionally suspended after testing positive for recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), Italian anti-doping authorities confirmed<\/a>.<\/p>\n The case is significant because Giangregorio, a top performer on the Italian circuit, previously served a four-year ban after a positive test in October 2019, also for EPO. The story was first reported on Gran Fondo Daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is the latest doping scandal to hit the thriving amateur racing scene.<\/p>\n It is difficult to determine how widespread doping is across gran fondo and amateur racing. Amateur and gran fondo riders are bound by the same World Anti-Doping Agency<\/a> rules as professional athletes.<\/p>\n Most competitors in these mass-participation events race clean, but a series of recent high-profile cases is putting a spotlight on the niche.<\/p>\n Gran fondo racing is one of Europe\u2019s largest amateur sports, with hundreds of events drawing massive fields across Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, often including former professionals.<\/p>\n Prize money is limited, but riders compete for prestige and amateur glory.<\/p>\n American masters world champion banned<\/p>\n Testing remains inconsistent and is often limited by resources, though most national federations conduct some controls during the season.<\/p>\n Intelligence-led targeting is also used to flag suspicious performances.<\/p>\n