The Saunier Duval team has pulled out of the Tour de France after Italian cyclist Ricardo Ricco tested positive for EPO.
Third rider falls foul of anti-doping procedures
The Saunier Duval team has pulled out of the Tour de France after Italian cyclist Ricardo Ricco tested positive for EPO.
Ricco had won two mountain stages on the Tour and was ninth in the overall standings.
He was arrested on the team bus by police after tests proved he had provided a positive urine sample.
The Italian is the third rider to fail a drugs test in this year's tour after Moises Duenas of Barloworld and Manuel Beltran of Liquigas.
"We've decided to suspend all cycling activities until we find out what has happened," team spokesman Matxin Fernandez said.
"Ricco is not just any rider, he's a top rider. So for the sake of our team and the Tour de France we have made this decision. We can't act as though nothing has happened, we have to accept the reality."
Saunier Duval had been the outstanding team in the mountains during the first week-and-a-half of this year's Tour.
In addition to Ricco's two stage wins, Leanardo Piepoli led home Juan Jose Cobo Acebo for a one-two in stage 10, a gruelling ride through the Pyrenees to a summit finish at Hautacam.
