Following Riccò's admission of guilt in the affair, his advisors had hoped for a 20-month ban to be handed to the rider, but on 2 October 2008, he was handed a 2-year ban by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), which Riccò found disappointing; ""I'm very disappointed and bitter. I expected better understanding. But I made a mistake and it's fair that I pay."" However, on 17 March 2009, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban to 20 months because of his cooperation; he resumed racing in March 2010 on the team.