Luca Paolini’s ban for cocaine ended on January 10 but the Italian Classics rider has told Gazzetta dello Sport that he has officially retired from racing and instead has invested in a historic coffee bar in central Como.
Paolini tested positive for cocaine during the 2015 Tour de France, while riding for the Katusha team. He claimed he took the drug in June during a training camp to help deal with an addiction to sleeping medicine Benzodiazepine, but was banned from racing for 18 months after a drawn out case because the drug was detected in competition.
Paolini had hoped to return to the peloton despite turning 40 on Tuesday. However, teams preferred to look to the future rather than give him a second chance.
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“I trained hard, I was back on form but there was no way back, Paolini told Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.
“At Astana, Vinokourov told me that because of my ban he could not hire me. Coming from him that made me laugh… I would’ve liked to race with Bahrain-Merida, but the Arabian culture doesn’t accept the minimum error when it comes to alcohol and drugs.
“Despite everything I set myself a deadline of finding something by Christmas. But nothing came together. I’m bitter about it. I know that I hurt cycling, but before that, I’d given so much too. The Italian national coach Cassani called me a few times but the Italian Federation didn’t get in touch, even to call me an idiot.”
Turning a new page
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