Italian cyclist Paolini banned 18 months in cocaine case (The Associated Press)

Italian cyclist Luca Paolini has been banned for 18 months after testing positive for cocaine at the Tour de France last year. Paolini was thrown out of the Tour when the positive test was announced on July 10, three days after being tested on the day of the fourth stage. With the ban dated retroactively to July 10, Paolini’s ban will end in January.