August 6, 2008 (Rome, Italy) – Emanuele Sella (CSF Group-Navigare) has tested positive for the same version of the banned blood booster, EPO (erythropoietin) that fellow Italian, Riccardo Ricco (formerly Saunier Duval), confessed to taking during the Tour de France reports AFP. The 27-year-old Italian who won three stages of the 2008 Giro was caught by an out of competition test taken on July 23.

A statement on the team website indicates that Sella was immediately suspended from the team. That statement also wishes that Sella will cooperate with the sport Court of CONI (Italian Olympic committee) led by Ettore Torri. Sella’s team mate, Ariel Maximiliano Richeze, of Argentina tested positive for stanozolol in April. CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator) is a new version of EPO that some sources believed could not be detected.

Meanwhile, Ricco has named Carlo Santuccione as his supplier of CERA according to the Belgian daily, Het Laatste Nieuws citing a story in Italy’s La Repubblica. Santuccione is a disbarred Italian sports doctor who is also known as ‘Ali the Chemist.’ Ricco claims he agreed to pay 700 euros ($1,130 CDN) to Santuccione for the CERA on the understanding that the drug could not be detected. Ricco, who was caught and is now facing a ban from cycling, has not paid Santuccione.

For more on these stories CSF Group-Navigare, AFP, Het Laatste Nieuws.