Riccardo Riccò tested positive for Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator (CERA) , one of the third generation of epo products. 

During a court hearing in France earlier this month Riccò denied the use of epo  and said he could understand that he was sacked by Saunier Duval. "Thats a normal procedure, thats what all teams do in a situation like this."

But during a hearing by the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping investigators in Rome this morning Riccò admitted to have taken performance enhancing drugs before this years Tour de France. After being interrogated by  CONI prosecuter Ettore Torri, Riccò told reporters outside of the building: "I've admitted my responsibility, it's all my own fault and I've decided not ask for the counter-analysis because there's no need."

French tv station France 3 reported earlier this month that Riccò also delivered a positive a sample for the drug during this years Giro d'Italia. But Riccò insists that he was riding clean during the Giro. "I was tired after the Giro d'Italia mentally and physically. I took it but it was a teenage shenanigan. At the Giro I was clean, then the Wednesday before leaving… I can't say where I got it from because there's a legal procedure underway."