July 17, 2008 (Lavelanet, France) – The 2008 TdF is still reeling from the news that Italy’s Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) has apparently tested positive for “a third generation” type of banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) and his entire team has withdrawn from the Tour de France reports the French daily, l’Equipe. The newspaper adds that Ricco was among the ten cyclists who were targeted for extra surveillance by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) after showing abnormal values in blood tests conducted on July 3 and 4.

Traces of the banned substance CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator) also showed up in one of Ricco’s urine samples after the fourth stage, a 29.5 km time-trial at Cholet reports AFP. Questions remain about how this substance was detected because it is not clear that there is an adequate test for CERA.

Ricco is the third cyclist to fail a doping test at the 2008 TdF and by far the biggest name to add to cycling’s doping woes. Ricco won the sixth and the ninth stage of this year’s Tour and finished second overall at this year’s Giro behind Alberto Contador (Astana). He claims to have a naturally high haematocrit level of over 50, meaning a higher volume of red blood cells that give him an edge in endurance sports. A high level of haematocrit can also indicate doping with EPO. The 24-year-old Italian is nicknamed “˜the cobra’ and considered one of the best climbers worldwide.

For more on this story l’Equipe and AFP.