The death of this unnamed cyclist, which occurred around December 2002, led to an investigation by the Italian authorities.
Italy's Anti-Narcotic Group (NAS) began an investigation, this included tapping the phones of Doctor Santuccione and installing a hidden camera in his office.
On March 3, 2004, they recorded a phone call in which Santuccione advised the professional cyclist Danilo Di Luca to inject EPO before Milan–San Remo.
[4] Following this surveillance the NAS squad conducted coordinated surprise raids at team hotels as well as at certain riders' homes on the night of May 24, 2004.
[7] On October 26, 2007, the Italian pole vaulter Giuseppe Gibilisco was given a two-year ban for his involvement.