The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Friday that Joseph D’Antoni of Raleigh, N.C., an athlete in the sport of cycling, tested positive at the Track World Cup Qualifier on Feb. 26, 2004.

He tested positive for recombinant human Erythropoietin (rEPO), a prohibited substance under the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is the international federation for the sport of cycling.

rEPO is a synthetic hormone that stimulates the body’s production of red blood cells thereby increasing oxygen transport and aerobic power.

D’Antoni, 27, accepted a two-year suspension from all sanctioned competition in accordance with the rules of UCI. His suspension begins on Sept. 22, 2004, the date that he accepted the sanction. USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States, and will carry out the sanction.

This is the 28th announcement issued by USADA during 2004. USADA became the independent anti-doping agency for U.S. athletes for the Olympic movement in October 2000.