Katusha's Giampaolo Caruso provisionally banned over EPO test
Last Updated: 18/08/15 8:22pm
Katusha rider Giampaolo Caruso has been provisionally suspended after a sample he gave in 2012 was retested and found to contain traces of EPO.
The 35-year-old Italian gave the sample during an out-of-competition test in March 2012, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said in a statement.
A statement from the sport's governing body read: "The UCI announces that it has notified Italian rider Giampaolo Caruso of an Adverse Analytical Finding of Erythropoietin (EPO) in a sample collected during an out-of-competition test on March 27, 2012.
"The sample had been stored and was re-analysed in light of new scientific developments."
Caruso, who was on the team's roster for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana, has the right to request analysis of his B sample.
He is the second Katusha rider to be suspended this season after Luca Paolini tested positive for cocaine during the Tour de France.
A statement from the team read: "Bearing in mind the anti-doping regulations, the team will wait until the analysis of the B sample has been conducted before taking any further action or making further comment.
"However, Team Katusha would like to underline that this news comes as a complete shock."
