ROME: Disgraced Italian Danilo Di Luca is set to return to competition in January 2011 after an anti-doping tribunal at the Italian Olympic Commitee (CONI) reduced a two-year doping ban to 15 months Friday. Di Luca, the 2007 Tour of Italy winner, was initially banned for two years after testing positive for the latest generation of the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO-Cera) after finishing runner-up in 2008. He was handed a 280,000-euro fine and banned until July 21, 2011. However, his collaboration with investigators probing illicit doping methods and practices has allowed him an early return. Di Luca insisted, however, he implicated no one. “I gave no names,” said the Italian, a former one-day classics specialist. “I did it for (the good of) cycling, not to point the finger at any cyclists. “I explained the methods (of doping). My decision to speak was above all to help educate the youth.” Now hoping to find a team and “return to the classics and the Tour of Italy”, Di Luca said he is simply happy to go back to work. “I'm happy because finally I can go back to work as of tomorrow,” he added as he left the tribunal. “In this last year-and-a-half I haven't stopped training. Now I just have to make up for lost time.” Lawal banned for doping Nigerian sprinter Bowa Lawal has received a two-year suspension after testing positive for an anabolic agent. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said Thursday that Athletics Australia had imposed the ban after Ladal tested positive for the prohibited substance methandienone in March at the IAAF's 2010 Melbourne Track Classic. Lawal, who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships, will be banned until April 2012 from competing in any national or international event that complies with the World Anti-Doping Authority code. Canadian doctor indicted Canadian doctor Anthony Galea was formally indicted Thursday on charges of smuggling unapproved drugs into the United States to treat high-profile sports clients. A federal grand jury in Buffalo returned a five-count indictment against Toronto-based Galea, who is accused of smuggling human growth hormone and other substances across the US-Canadian border, as well as conspiracy, fraud and lying to border agents. Authorities say Galea, who is not licensed to practice medicine in the United States, made frequent trips across the Peace Bridge in Buffalo to see athletes in several cities. The indictment doesn't identify athletes by name, but Galea's high-profile clients have included golfer Tiger Woods, baseball star Alex Rodriguez and several NFL players. Woods confirmed in July that he had been interviewed by authorities investigating Galea. But the golfer said his treatment by Galea consisted of platelet-enriched plasma treatments for Woods' left knee. The “blood spinning” treatment is designed to speed recovery from injuries. Woods has denied taking any performance
