The Tour de France was hit by the news of Riccardo Ricco's positive test before the start of stage 12 this morning. Riccò
tested positive for epo after stage 4, an individual time trial in Cholet.
French tv station France 3 reported this evening that Riccò already tested positive for epo during this years Giro d'Italia
but the rider wasn't punished by Italian anti-doping authorities as the result of Ricco's b sample was negative. French anti-doping
authorities were informed about Ricco's positive in the Giro and kept a close eye on the 24 year old Saunier Duval rider.
Saunier Duval pulled out the whole team of 'Le Tour', some riders heard the decision as they were about to sign
the startlist of stage 12. In a statement the team said: "Just an hour before the start of today´s stage, the French anti-doping
agency notified Riccardo Riccò that he´d tested positive for a banned substance after the fourth stage of the Tour de France
2008. Although the Tour organisers allow teams to continue to participate after a positive test, given Riccò ´s important
role to the team in the race, Saunier Duval - Scott have decided to withdraw in order to preserve the positive image of the
team´s sponsors and the Tour de France itself. Riccò has been suspended."
The statement on the Saunier Duval team website
concluded saying: "Moreover, the team decided to temporarily abandon competition activities until this unfortunate incident
is clarified."
After the Saunier Duval team left the Tour de France, French police stopped and searched all team cars, trucks and busses
at the A9 in the direction Spain. Its unkown if French police found something during their search.
Riccò was taken away by French police from the start and at 9pm local time the Italian rider was still in custody. State
prosecuter Antoine Leroy said `Riccò denied any wrongdoing during his first interrogation. Leroy said Riccò will have to appear
for court on Friday, the ruling judge will then decide about further steps in the case.
Riccò tested positive on Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator (CERA) , one of the third generation of epo products. Unlike
the first generation of epo products CERA doesn't have to be injected every day because it is a slow release form
of the blood boosting drug. It was believed that anti-doping labs were unable to detect CERA but Ricco's positive
prooved something different.
