In the future cyclists who have earlier been suspended for doping may not participate in the Italian national championships, Italian Cycling Federation president Renato Di Rocco said.

He has asked for a chance in the federation’s rules for access to the championships. The new rules will “prevent the participation of riders sanctioned for doping in all categories and specialities.”

That means that any rider who is currently under suspension or has already served a doping ban in the past will not be allowed to race.

The rule would mean that riders like Ivan Basso, Danilo Di Luca, Alessandro Petacchi, Michele Scarponi, Emanuele Sella and Davide Rebellin would be exluced from winning the Italian championships.

After the next meeting of the Italian Cycling Federation's (FCI) Federal Council, we will find out what the rest of the federation thinks about the idea.

Personally I feel like it would be a rather exciting way to convey that doping is unacceptable, at the same way I'm not quite sure it will reduce the number of dopers in Italian cycling sport.

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One day later: FCI has announced that only riders who were handed doping suspensions after 1 August 2008 will be prevented from racing in the national championships.