RICCO POSITIVE FOR EPO AT TOUR DE FRANCE

Riccardo Ricco
(Image credit: WATSON)

The Equipe website (www.equipe.fr) has announced that Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) has tested positive for the third generation of EPO called Cera.

The news was confirmed by the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport and other sources.

According to Italian website tuttobiciweb.it, Ricco was taken away by French police at the start of stage 13 and none of the other Saunier Duval riders started the stage at one o'clock.

According to Equipe Ricco was positive in two tests taken on July 3 and 4 before the start of the Tour de France in Brest. However Pierre Bordry, the head of the AFLD, said Ricco was positive after a targeted test done after the stage four Cholet time trial.

Ricco won stages of the Tour in spectacular style at Super-Besse and at Bagneres de Bigorre in the Pyrenees. He was also leading the best climber and best young rider competitions.

Like other riders, Ricco was tested several times during the first week of the Tour by the French anti-doping controllers but the cocky Italian always seemed unworried about the extra attention.

CERA: THE THIRD GENERATION EPO

Cera is a new kind of EPO that requires fewer injections because it is a slow release form of the blood boosting drug. Riders may have taken it because they believed the EPO urine test carried out in Lausanne was unable to detect it but Ricco?s positive seems to have destroyed that theory.

more later.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS

Stage 11: Arvesen wins

Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second

Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees

Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse

Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage

Stage six: Ricco storms to win

Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win

Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead

Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break

Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint

Stage one: Valverde wins

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS

Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary

Cavendish battles through Pyrenees

Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]

Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour

Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]

Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

David Millar: the dope controls are working

Manuel Neltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit

Doping back in Tour de France headlines

Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]

Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]

Millar to go for yellow [stage six]

Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]

Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win

Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]

Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]

Who is Romain Feillu?

Cavendish disappointed with stage two result

Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey

Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?

Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec

Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win

Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS

Stage 11

Stage 11

Stage 10

Stage nine

Stage eight

Stage seven

Stage six

Stage five

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: BLOGS

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

Swipe to scroll horizontally
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE

Tour de France 2008 homepage>>

News and features>>

All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>

Day by day summary>>

Route & stages>>

Teams and riders>>

About the Tour>>

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.