Riccardo Riccò excluded from the Tour de France for doping
Josep Jufré, cyclist from Osona, has left the Tour de France due to a case of doping in his team. After Italian Riccardo Riccò tested positive for EPO, the Spanish Saunier Duval team, of which Jufré was part, has decided to leave the competition.
Riccò’s positive and the team’s decision
During the twelfth stage of the Tour de France, Riccardo Riccò was excluded from the competition after testing positive for EPO in the anti-doping control. However, the rest of the Saunier Duval team prepared for the departure, but a few minutes before it was announced that they had to withdraw.
The penalty and the decision of the team
Riccò was excluded and arrested by the French gendarmes to proceed with the corresponding interrogation. The Italian cyclist tested positive after the fourth stage of the Tour, the Cholet time trial. Josep Jufré, speaking of the penalty that could be imposed on him, expressed his disappointment.
The decision of the Saunier Duval team
According to Jufré, the Saunier Duval team has decided to abandon all competitions until the situation normalizes. This is the third case of doping in this edition of the Tour de France.