Michele Scarponi suspended by Lampre for visiting banned doctor

Lampre have suspended 2011 Giro d'Italia winner Michele Scarponi for visiting banned doctor Michele Ferrari.

The Italian admitted visiting Ferrari, who is banned for life by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), on 25 October.

Usada claim the doctor masterminded Lance Armstrong's doping programme but Ferrari has denied any wrongdoing.

"The team doctor has suspended the rider for violation of the internal code of the team," said Lampre spokesman Andrea Appian.

"We await the decisions of the competent authorities and underline that all the issues refer to a period when Scarponi did not ride for Lampre."

Scarponi has previously served an 18-month ban after being implicated in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal which dated back to 2006.