Blog: Doping expert stunned by Riccò positive
Riccardo Ricco tested positive after the stage 4 time trial (AFP/Getty Images)
Professor Michel Audran is one of the world's leading experts on blood doping. He is also one of nine independent experts chosen to act as consultants in the formulation of the UCI's biological passport.
I spoke to Audran this morning within minutes of L'Equipe's website announcing that Riccardo Riccò has tested positive for an EPO derivative after stage four of the Tour de France, the individual time trial around Cholet.
In the last twenty minutes we've heard that Riccardo Riccò has tested positive for an EPO-like product. The early reports suggest that Riccò used CERA or Micera, a so-called third generation EPO. What's your reaction?
Wow. I'm stunned. I'm amazed they're saying it's Micera, simply because there's no validated test for that yet. The World Anti-Doping Agency is working on a test, but it certainly doesn't exist yet.
Read the rest of Dan's blog here.
User Comments
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McBain_v1
Posted Thu 17 Jul, 12:57 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Is it me, or do we now need to view the entire top 5 riders with a degree of suspicion? It's all so depressing :-(
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Cokes
Posted Thu 17 Jul, 4:27 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Nah mcbain, you can see who's really juiced up. The S.Duval lads may as well have peddled around with a flag out their arse saying they were doping. Peipoli wasnt even out of breath crossing the line the other day. i posted an opinion 3 days ago that ricco was dodgy. I'm hoping n praying than vander velde is clean. Purely cuz Paul Kimmage is staying with the team before and during the tour. JVaughters seems determined to do sumthing ethical....as for hincapie's 'SHOCK' that ricco was doping....what a tool !! but then we must remember that he was lance's ( ....all geniflect..... ) no 1 lieutenant
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