June 14/07 12:56 pm - UCI Issues Statement Regading Doping at 2007 Giro, AFP Reports Petacchi, Mayo and Piepoli return positive dope tests

Posted by Editoress on 06/14/07
 

Antidoping Controls at 2007 Giro D'Italia
Courtesy UCI

The UCI has noted press reports about three purportedly abnormal analysis results linked to the last Giro d'Italia. While regretting the premature publication of this news item, the UCI wishes to clarify the following points.

No breach of the UCI antidoping rules was committed by the Spanish rider Iban Mayo of the Saunier Duval team. A further examination conducted by IRMS has enabled any possibility of testosterone administration to be ruled out. This further analysis was requested by the UCI following the notification by the Rome laboratory of a T/E value in excess of the norm laid down in the rules; that finding made further examinations necessary.

The history of this particular case shows the vital need to await the closure of the relevant investigations before reaching conclusions.

In the other cases, the analyses requested by the UCI are still in progress.

Petacchi, Mayo and Piepoli return positive dope tests
From Agence France Presse (AFP)

Traces of drugs were found in the urine samples taken from Italian pair Alessandro Petacchi and Leonardo Piepoli and Spanish climber Iban Mayo at the Giro d'Italia, the Gazzetta dello Sport said on Thursday.

The Gazzetta reported that the three cyclists returned 'non-negative' tests at the first major Tour of the season, which ran from May 12-June 3.

The paper said sprinter Petacchi and climber Piepoli tested positive for salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma.

Salbutamol is a banned substance, but riders with asthma may use it to certain levels if they possess a medical certificate.

Mayo is reported to have tested positive for testosterone, the banned male sex hormone which snared Floyd Landis on his way to victory in last year's Tour de France.

Basque television channel EITB confirmed that Mayo, who was tested following his victory on the 19th stage to Terme di Comano, was one of the three riders under suspicion.

Petacchi, who won the Milan-San Remo classic in 2005 and four stages at the Tour De France in 2003, rides for Milram while Mayo and Piepoli ride for Saunier Duval. The Italian sprinter also won five stages on this year's Giro.

According to the Gazzetta, neither team was informed of the positive tests by world cycling's governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Saunier team manager Mauro Gianetti was left confused about the fate of his two cyclists.

"I called the UCI and they said to me 'If you haven't heard any news, it's because there isn't any.' This is absurd," he said.

Piepoli reacted to the news prior to the start of the Dauphine Libere's fourth stage in France, saying: "It's true that I take salbutamol to treat my allergy.

"Mauro (Gianetti) asked me how much I had taken. But I don't know how many puffs I took. I take it each time I need it. It depends on the seasons."

The Gazzetta said further examination of the three urine samples were being carried out at a laboratory in Rome, and that they may be taken to Barcelona, Spain for more tests.

In his prime as part of the Basque Euskaltel team, the 29-year-old Mayo was one of the few riders capable of challenging the dominance of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich on the Tour de France mountain stages.

He won the stage to Alpe d'Huez in 2003, and won the Dauphine Libere stage race, an important build-up to the Tour, in 2004.