August 18, 2006 – Yesterday, according to AP and other news agencies, a court in Switzerland ordered the reopening of a doping investigation into Oscar Camenzind, former world champion and ex-Phonak rider who was banned in 2004.

The 1998 world champion and Phonak rider tested positive for the banned endurance drug EPO (erythropoietin) in July 2004 and was fired from his team. “Camenzind announced his retirement from the sport shortly afterwards. The cantonal court in the Swiss region of Schwytz ordered an investigating magistrate to reopen the case, which had been dropped by a local district court last December, the Swiss news agency Sport Information reported.”

This was just more bad news for the Phonak team. The Swiss cyclist’s case was the first in a wave of doping scandals to hit the Phonak team over the past two years. On Tuesday, Phonak owner, Andy Rihs, announced that he was winding up Phonak in the wake of 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis’ positive doping test.