The Court of Arbitration for Sport has been approached by Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco to reduce a two-year suspension.

Ricco was penalized by the Italian authorities and banned from the sport by the Anti-doping Tribunal of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) on October 2 after testing positive for CERA, a third generation version of banned substance EPO.

From Espnstar.com:

The 25-year-old, after initially denying the allegations, eventually pleaded guilty and named the doctor who had given him the substance, as well as another rider, in an effort to get a reduced punishment.

A decision on Ricco’s appeal will likely be reached within four months.

A statement released today by CAS read: “The CONI Anti-doping Tribunal has imposed a suspension of two years on Ricco after a positive doping test with EPO, performed during the Tour de France 2008.

“The athlete requests the reduction of the suspension on the basis of his collaboration with the authorities in this matter.

“The directions with respect to the arbitration procedure will be issued later on by the Tribunal in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

“As a general rule, CAS delivers its decisions within four months from the filing of the appeal.”

Ricco won two stages on the Tour – the second with a spectacular finish on one of the toughest mountain climbs.

Ricco would only be able to compete again after July 30, 2010 if the appeal fails.

Tags: CERA, EPO, Riccardo Ricco, Tour de France

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As per a recommendation of the Italian Olympic Committee‘s anti-doping office, a ban of three years will be imposed on Danilo Di Luca for two adverse test results during May’s Giro d’Italia.

The rider also faces a criminal investigation by the Italian authorities.

From Espnstar.com:

The Italian Olympic Committee‘s anti-doping office have recommended Danilo Di Luca serve a three-year ban for two adverse test results during May’s Giro d’Italia.

Di Luca finished second in the Giro to Russia’s Denis Menchov, however he tested positive for the banned substance CERA – an advanced version of the blood-boosting product erythropoietin (EPO) – on May 20 and May 28.

His positive test results were first revealed on July 22, and so any ban would begin on that date.

CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee, has also made a recommendation to annul results of the rider besides imposing a fine on him.

Tags: CERA, Danilo Di Luca, EPO, erythropoietin

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Riccardo Ricco, the cyclist from Italy, is hopeful that his two-year suspension will be reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Italian authorities handed down the penalty to the rider and Anti-doping Tribunal of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) banned him on October 2 after he tested positive for CERA, a third generation version of banned substance EPO.

From Espnstar.com:

The 25-year-old, after initially denying the allegations, eventually pleaded guilty and named the doctor who had given him the substance, as well as another rider, in an effort to get a reduced punishment.

A decision on Ricco’s appeal will likely be reached within four months.

A statement released today by CAS read: “The CONI Anti-doping Tribunal has imposed a suspension of two years on Ricco after a positive doping test with EPO, performed during the Tour de France 2008.

“The athlete requests the reduction of the suspension on the basis of his collaboration with the authorities in this matter.

“The directions with respect to the arbitration procedure will be issued later on by the Tribunal in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

“As a general rule, CAS delivers its decisions within four months from the filing of the appeal.”

Ricco won two stages on the Tour – the second with a spectacular finish on one of the toughest mountain climbs.

Ricco, the former Saunier Duval rider, will make it only after July 30, 2010 if the appeal fails.

Tags: CERA, EPO, Riccardo Ricco, Tour de France

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The Silence Lotto team has decided to sack Bernhard Kohl after his sample tested positive to CERA, the new generation of the banned blood booster EPO, at the Tour de France.

The National anti-doping agency (AFLD) of France confirmed the positive sample finding.

From Espnstar.com:

Kohl finished third and also won the Polka Dot jersey as the best climber on this year’s Tour.

The Austrian, who rode for Gerolsteiner this season, had signed a contract with Silence Lotto which was due to run until 2011.

But a statement from his new team read: “Around 1900 (on Monday) the press told us that Bernhard Kohl has been controlled positively for the use of CERA.

“We have immediately checked this information with the Gerolsteiner’s manager, who has confirmed it.

“If this information is confirmed by the official authorities, the team management will start the legal steps in view of breaking immediately our future collaboration with Kohl.”

Italians Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, plus Germany’s Stefan Schumacher, have already tested positive for CERA.

It was revealed by the anti-doping authorities that a sample of Kohl contained CERA before and during the Tour after re-tests at a laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry.

Tags: Bernhard Kohl, CERA, EPO, Leonardo Piepoli, Riccardo Ricco, Silence Lotto, Stefan Schumacher, Tour de France

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According to the French Anti-Doping Agency, two new and undetectable doping products were used at the 2009 Tour de France.

Pierre Bordry, head of the AFLD, told Le Monde that “two new products were used during [this year's] Tour de France: two medicines that are not yet on the market.”

From Guardian.co.uk:

One of the new products, according to the newspaper, is Hematide, which is a form of erythropoietin (EPO), that maintains stable haemoglobin levels – fluctuating haemoglobin readings being one indicator that an athlete has doped. The other product allegedly used is Aicar, which enhances muscle tissue while burning fat. Bordry was reportedly “shocked” by the thinness of some of the riders at this year’s Tour.

The possible use of Hematide by athletes carries echoes of the Cera cases at the 2008 Tour. Then a test for Cera – a so-called third generation EPO – was developed in secret in collaboration with the product’s manufacturer and used on riders’ samples. Hematide is still undergoing clinical tests and it could be another two years before it is approved to treat anaemic patients – which, like other forms of EPO, including Cera, is its intended medical use. The AFLD is likely to carry out retrospective tests on stored samples from the 2008 and 2009 races.

Bordry said he believes illegal blood transfusions were still in use during the Tour and he claimed that his agency had found evidence of “hardcore medicines” in rubbish bins during the Tour.

Tags: AICAR, CERA, EPO, erythropoietin, Hematide, Tour de France

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Representatives of Stefan Schumacher have condemned the doping procedures that led to a positive test for Schumacher.

Schumacher tested positive for the new generation of the banned blood booster EPO both before and during the Tour.

From Espnstar.com:

The German cycling federation (BDR) revealed earlier this week they had begun an investigation into the tests after receiving confirmation of the results from Germany’s national anti-doping agency (NADA).

The body had asked Schumacher to provide a written response or request a B-sample test within five working days.

Schumacher tested positive for CERA following tests taken on July 3, before the start of the Tour, and on July 15, a rest day.

But Schumacher’s lawyer feels the re-tests have left room for doubt.

A statement from Dr Michael Lehner read: “Stefan Schumacher’s blood levels at the entry check for the Tour de France on July 3 and at the check on the rest day July 15 were not only each without complaint, but rather in an absolutely inconspicuous area.

“The A samples analysed immediately after both doping checks were negative, without a doping finding.

“Under which circumstances and which blood tests have allegedly tested positive for CERA three months later in a laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry, is, according to the information available up until now, completely unclear.”

The positive test was confirmed by re-tested samples at the French laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry.

Tags: CERA, EPO, Stefan Schumacher

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Danilo Di Luca will be serving a ban of three years for two adverse test results during May’s Giro d’Italia, according to a recommendation of the Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping office.

Luca also faces a criminal investigation by the Italian authorities.

From Espnstar.com:

The Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping office have recommended Danilo Di Luca serve a three-year ban for two adverse test results during May’s Giro d’Italia.

Di Luca finished second in the Giro to Russia’s Denis Menchov, however he tested positive for the banned substance CERA – an advanced version of the blood-boosting product erythropoietin (EPO) – on May 20 and May 28.

His positive test results were first revealed on July 22, and so any ban would begin on that date.

The Italian Olympic Committee, CONI, has also recommended results of Di Luca to be annulled and the rider be fined.

Tags: CERA, Danilo Di Luca, Denis Menchov, EPO, erythropoietin

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The Italian Olympic Committee, CONI, has handed over a ban of two years to Danilo Di Luca for a positive doping test.

The cyclist tested positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood booster EPO, during Giro d’Italia.

From Espnstar.com:

Di Luca tested positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood booster EPO, during last year’s Giro d’Italia.

On Monday, CONI’s anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri had recommended a 36-month ban for the 34-year-old.

The 2007 Giro d’Italia winner has also been fined 280,000 euros.

Di Luca is now set to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“We will turn to CAS,” said Di Luca. “There is still a lot to battle for but I remain confident.

“In any case it will not be the end of my career, I still have a lot to give.

“I am convinced I will be able to return before two years.

The ban of Di Luca will expire on July 21, 2011.

Tags: CERA, Danilo Di Luca, doping test, EPO

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Bernhard Kohl is expected to be sacked by the Silence Lotto team after he tested positive for CERA, the new generation of the banned blood booster EPO, at the Tour de France.

A sample of Kohl was found to contain CERA before and during the Tour after re-tests at a laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry.

From Espnstar.com:

Kohl finished third and also won the Polka Dot jersey as the best climber on this year’s Tour.

The Austrian, who rode for Gerolsteiner this season, had signed a contract with Silence Lotto which was due to run until 2011.

But a statement from his new team read: “Around 1900 (on Monday) the press told us that Bernhard Kohl has been controlled positively for the use of CERA.

“We have immediately checked this information with the Gerolsteiner’s manager, who has confirmed it.

“If this information is confirmed by the official authorities, the team management will start the legal steps in view of breaking immediately our future collaboration with Kohl.”

Italians Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, plus Germany’s Stefan Schumacher, have already tested positive for CERA.

The positive sample finding was confirmed by France’s national anti-doping agency (AFLD).

Tags: Bernhard Kohl, CERA, EPO, Leonardo Piepoli, Riccardo Ricco, Silence Lotto, Stefan Schumacher, Tour de France

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently confirmed that it will be carrying out further checks on samples given during doping tests in Beijing.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said: “Our message is very clear. The IOC will not miss any opportunity to further analyse samples retroactively. We hope that this will work as a strong deterrent and make athletes think twice before cheating.”

From Espnstar.com:

In a statement, the Olympic governing body said: “The IOC intends to further analyse the samples collected this summer during the Olympic Games in Beijing. Substances that will be analysed across all sports include EPO Cera.

“All samples are currently being repatriated to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Lausanne where Olympic samples are usually stored after the Games. The details of the procedure, such as the number of samples to be further analysed and the timeline, are currently being discussed with WADA.”

EPO Cera is an enhanced version of the blood-boosting hormone EPO and is now detectable due to advances in technology.

Two competitors from this year’s Tour de France, double stage winner Stefan Schumacher and Italian Leonardo Piepoli, have been caught since the advanced tests were introduced.

Despite early reports claiming every test result would be reassessed, the IOC have stopped short of making that pledge, however they have every sample in storage which means an entire review is possible.

Of the 4,770 tests carried out by WADA and Beijing Games officials during the Olympics, 3,801 were urine tests and 969 were blood tests.

Andy Parkinson, UK Sport’s head of operations, has welcomed the IOC step.

Tags: CERA, doping tests, EPO, IOC, Leonardo Piepoli, Stefan Schumacher, Tour de France

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