July 17/08 8:22 am - Ricco Positive, Saunier-Duval Out of the Tour

Posted by Editor on 07/17/08
 

Ricco Positive - Out of the Tour

The French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported in today's edition that Italian Riccardo Ricco of the Saunier-Duval team has tested positive for EPO, the third rider to test positive at the Tour de France this year. According to L'Eqipe, Ricco's 'A' sample urine test showed French Anti-Doping Agency AFLD showed traces of CERA (Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator), a third generation version of the blood booster EPO.

Ricco is the first high ranking rider to be caught this year, and was currently sitting ninth in GC after having won stages 6 and 9, as well as leading the Younger Rider classification. Ricco was detained by the police for questioning, and the Saunier-Duval team has withdrawn from the Tour.