Lavelanet, France (My Sportsbook) - Italian rider Riccardo Ricco of Saunier Duval tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO forcing his team to suspend activities Thursday and drop out of the Tour de France. According to the French sports daily L'Equipe, one of Ricco's urine samples collected by the French Anti-Doping Agency AFLD showed traces of a third generation EPO called CERA (Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator). Saunier Duval voluntarily withdrew after the positive test and will not compete in any races until further notice. Ricco had won two stages in the Tour (the sixth and ninth) and was ninth overall in the standings. |
