Tour de France Team Out After Rider Tests Positive
- added July 17, 2008
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- mjsmith11
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NARBONNE, France — The Tour de France, battling to maintain its credibility after so many years of doping scandals involving riders at the top of the sport of cycling, was hit again Thursday with the third drug scandal of this year’s Tour.
Riccardo Ricco, the winner of two stages in the Tour’s first nine days and in ninth place in the race so far, tested positive for a new-generation variant of the blood-boosting drug EPO after the fourth stage of the race last week, according to the French Anti-Doping Agency.
After the results became known Thursday morning, French Gendarmes questioned Ricco in the start village at Lavelanet and then drove away with him in a team car.
Members of Ricco’s Saunier Duval-Scott team had already prepared to start the 12th stage of the race in Lavalanet on Thursday morning when news of the failed drug test led the team’s management to withdraw its remaining riders from the Tour.
Ricco’s is the third failed test by a rider at the Tour this year. Two Spanish riders previously tested positive for EPO: Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team and Moises Duenas Nevado of the Barloworld team. Duenas Nevado was also arrested after a police search found banned performance-enhancing drugs in his hotel room.
Riccardo Ricco, the winner of two stages in the Tour’s first nine days and in ninth place in the race so far, tested positive for a new-generation variant of the blood-boosting drug EPO after the fourth stage of the race last week, according to the French Anti-Doping Agency.
After the results became known Thursday morning, French Gendarmes questioned Ricco in the start village at Lavelanet and then drove away with him in a team car.
Members of Ricco’s Saunier Duval-Scott team had already prepared to start the 12th stage of the race in Lavalanet on Thursday morning when news of the failed drug test led the team’s management to withdraw its remaining riders from the Tour.
Ricco’s is the third failed test by a rider at the Tour this year. Two Spanish riders previously tested positive for EPO: Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team and Moises Duenas Nevado of the Barloworld team. Duenas Nevado was also arrested after a police search found banned performance-enhancing drugs in his hotel room.
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Road bikes aren't really my thing, but I love watching the Tour.
The organizers of the event need to take a step back and totally revamp the entire race. It's almost become a joke. Maybe they need to go so far as ditching the team concept, fewer sponsors, or creating budget caps.
I don't know the answer, but the current setup isn't working. -
I'm not one for the road bike either..... But if they want to return credibility to the race , bring back the old ways....
Let them smoke and drink wine if they wish.
It has become such a corporate event that the real reason has been overshadowed in my mind.
It's now a rolling chess game.
Teams should be eliminated and only solo riders should compete.....
Just say no to spandex.
Ride on!
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