Rome - Italian marathon runner Alberico Di Cecco has been banned for two years after testing positive for the blood-boosting hormone EPO, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said Tuesday.

The suspension begins from October 12 last year and runs to October 11, 2010, CONI said.

Di Cecco, who finished ninth at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, failed a test at the Italian championship in Carpi on October 12. dpa