July 18, 2008 (Nimes, France) – Saunier Duval, which withdrew from the Tour de France before stage 12 began, today fired two of its riders report CP and BBC. Leonardo Piepoli – who has not tested positive for any banned substances – and Riccardo Ricco, who tested positive for CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator), a third generation type of banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO), were both let go by the team following an internal investigation. “[The team manager] did a personal investigation and consequently lost faith in Ricco but also in Piepoli because of a violation of the team’s ethics code,” read a statement released by Saunier Duval.

Meanwhile, preliminary doping-related charges have been filed against Ricco. Under French law, the Italian cyclist could face a two-year jail term for possession of doping products. The 24-year-old Ricco, nicknamed ‘the cobra’, is considered one of the best climbers worldwide. Piepoli is a 36-year-old Italian climber who won the 10th stage at the 2008 Tour.

Canada’s Charles Dionne (Successful Living), formerly with Saunier Duval in 2006 and 2007, told Quebec City’s le Soleil that he was not surprised that his former team mate Ricco tested positive. Dionne rode with Ricco, David De La Fuente, Pieopoli, and David Millar among others. When asked if Ricco was alone in doping, Dionne said he didn’t know, but if it turned out that Pieopoli also doped, “then probably the whole team was doping.” Apparently Dionne made this remark before the announcement that Pieopoli had been fired. Dionne left Saunier Duval for Colavita in September 2007 and he suggests that fans might now better understand his rationale for switching to an American-based team.

Title sponsor Saunier Duval describes itself as a leading European heating technology group. Company director, Thierry Leroy, told French radio station RTL on Friday that Saunier Duval would probably end its sponsorship deal, which runs until 2013, because of this scandal according to AP.

For more on this story CP, BBC, le Soleil (in French), and AP