Italy’s RCS MediaGroup, the organiser and commercial rights-holder of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, has sacked two executives from its sports division following an internal investigation into suspect transactions, according to the La Presse news service.
The officials, who were suspended in October pending the results of the investigation, are RCS Sport’s former chief executive Giacomo Catano and chief operating officer Michele Acquarone, who was the most prominent figure in organising the Giro.
The matter is also being investigated by magistrates in Milan.
Acquarone, who has previously denied any allegations of wrongdoing, said he would comment on the developments on Thursday.
Race director Mauro Vegni is expected to replace Acquarone as director of the Giro, while the Cycling News website said that Paolo Bellino, the general secretary of the Italian athletics federation, is the favourite to be appointed as the new chief executive of RCS Sport.
This article was updated on December 6.