Tour de France - Ricco tests positive

By Protournews

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Riccardo Ricco has tested positive for EPO.

The rider was tested four times in the first week and tested positive for CERA a new synthetic form of EPO, used in post renal surgery treatment.

Ricco has been ejected from the Tour and his Saunier Duval/Scott team did not start stage 12 today.

Ricco has won two stages of the Tour this year and was leading the King of the Mountains competition.

Pierre Bordry, president of the French anti-doping agency said "It's for the same product as the other two," referring to the positive tests on Manuel Beltràn and Moises Duenas Nevado.

Ricco has been subject to much speculation about his relationship with doping and may have been targeted by the French anti-doping agency.

Team manager Joxean Matxin said before the start and only minutes after the news has been made know to them, that "Ricco was our principal rider.... we couldn't start as if nothing had happened."

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Discuss this article, 1 of 19 messages, read more:

John Mullineaux

Posted: 17/07/08 12:15:16 16

I was really warming to Ricco, but now we are back in the situation where all our hopes and love of our sport are to be put through the media frenzy caused by riders who just don't get it.

Saunier Duval must leave the Tour.

Was he targeted?

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