Doping Déjà Vu at Tour de France
Jul 21st, 2008 • Posted in: NewsThree expulsions so far for alleged doping; exasperated veteran cyclist calls for lifetime ban for drug cheats
NÎMES, France
The Spanish cycling team Saunier Duval last week fired one of its Tour de France riders after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drug EPO.
Riccardo Ricco was forced off the tour and also made a court appearance, reports Agence France-Presse. The possession and use of banned substances is against French law.
Ricco has said he doubts the accuracy of the test.
He is the third racer to be tossed out of the event because of doping allegations, according to the London Telegraph.
EPO came into use about a decade ago, reports Scientific American. The substance increases both strength and endurance.
The perpetually scandal-plagued tour has exasperated many in the sport, including Australian star Stuart O’Grady, who has called for a lifetime ban for dope cheats.
“When are people going to realize that this is what puts our sport in jeopardy?” he told the Australian Age. “How many warning shots are going to be shot over the bow for them to realize? As far as I’m concerned they should be hit with a lifetime ban. They can go and pick cherries or do some other job, I don’t care. Just don’t come into cycling if you’re going to cheat.”
Sources: AFP, July 18 — Scientific American, July 18 — Australian Age, July 18 — London Telegraph, July 13.
For more information, see: Related Newsline story, July 30 — Related Newsline story, May 29, 2007 — Related Newsline story, May 14, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 18, 2006.
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