ITALIAN cyclist Leonardo Piepoli has been handed an immediate ban after testing positive for a banned substance at last year’s Tour de France.
The Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping tribunal said the two-year ban will end on January 25, 2011.
Piepoli, who won the 10th stage of the Tour de France, tested positive on July 4 and July 15 for CERA, an advanced version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO, according to the Associated Press.
The rider said earlier this month that he had engaged in doping in a "moment of weakness." He called his behavior "unjustifiable" and urged other cyclists not to cheat.
Meanwhile in Spain, some of the world’s top cyclists could face further court appearances in connection with the freshly reopened Operation Puerto doping probe.
Spanish sport minister Jaime Lissavetzky said this week the third review of the case would include “oral testimony,” also according to the Associated Press.
A Spanish court recently decided to reopen the investigation which has rocked the cycling world since the blood doping ring was discovered in May 2006.
More than 50 cyclists were originally implicated and earlier this month, a Madrid provincial court revoked the decision to shelve the case because “evidence exists that a crime was committed against public health.”
I find issues all the time for a car driver that wouldn't be an issue on the bike, ie roads closed to vehicles that are still passable on a bike, ...
If RoadCC and similar specialist mass media organs were serious about being not just ethical about climate change factors but about the whole...
I'd like to think that in addition to the very well exposed supply chain argument made by Patrick, the simply outrageous price of Shimano...
That bike with clearance for 33c, tracklocross style, could be a winner.
Hellish! Barely used, clearly dangerous, slowing competent cyclists down while pandering to the clueless, a serious threat to pedestrians, won't...
"I ran into the back of him because I was traumatised by seeing the latest petrol prices, m'lud"
Are you sure? Norway is socialist and has a very high quality of life.
Glad I got mine before that change in ownership.
Same sketch everywhere, or so it seems. Take Whitelegg Way in Bournemouth. Wide cycle lanes put in both sides of a (formerly very wide) two lane...
My first thought on reading the headline was "ooh, has Clevedon put in covered bike parking now?".