After testing positive for CERA during the 2008 Tour de France, Italian Riccardo Ricco may be making a comeback to cycling. HTC-Columbia’s Mark Cavendish is not happy about Ricco’s return at all. “He’s like a parasite coming back. It’s not just the fact of what he’s done, because everyone can make mistakes, it’s that he’s not even sorry about. It’s the lack of regret for all the damage that he’s done, that’s what upsets me,” said Cavendish. Ricco’s ban was reduced to only 20 months, which may serve to upset Cavendish even more. He didn’t have much else to say about Ricco; “I don’t lie in bed at night and think about Riccardo Riccò,” he said. “It’s insulting to the passion that I have and the others have for cycling … and for someone else to not give a shit about that, it’s incredibly demoralizing to have to compete against that,” he added.

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Italian cyclist Eugenio Bani has tested positive for the pregnancy hormone HcG, although he denies “knowingly” using any kind of drugs. The 18-year-old claims that the team gave him medication; “I never took substances myself,” he says, and they “forced me constantly to take the substances. I was frequently injected with liquids. I was told they were important for my recovery from races.” Bani has since filed a suit against his former team, Ambra Cavallini Vangi, and they are being investigated. Italian newspaper La Republica said that investigations have found ampoules, syringes, folic acid, vitamins, stimulants, and painkillers. “The only people who were giving me things were from the team,” Bani said of the positive drug test. “The fact is you have to trust the team. That is the system. Otherwise there is no place for you, either there or in any other team. I am convinced that this is the case in many if not all youth teams,” Bani explained. “They said they were vitamins, were taken out of the refrigerator, already packaged in syringes. I have asked many times what was inside and always reassured me: tonics to regain strength. In the end what should you do? You trust them,” he said of the weekly injections. Despite a 21-month ban in Italy, Bani has signed on with Amore & Vita. “We must start from here to review everything. What has happened to me can happen to anyone. I am convinced that I was not the only one who took the substance unwittingly. Only I have tested positive,” he said.[...]

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Tom Zirbel, runner-up for two consecutive years at the USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championships in August, confirmed yesterday that his “A” blood sample tested positive for DHEA. DHEA, or exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone, is a multi-functional steroid. “The U.S. pro TT was a major objective of mine this season, but I would never compromise my integrity for any bike race. At this point, I don’t know how this happened, but regardless of the outcome of my ‘B’ sample, I intend to find out with the help of a few accomplished scientists and doctors who have selflessly helped me since I first was notified of the ‘A’ findings,” Zirbel said. Because of this, Zirbel will not was dropped from Garmin-Transitions’ 2010 roster. “Tom has been up front with me about this process from the beginning. However, our anti-doping policy is zero tolerance. Tom alerted us to the situation and as a result he will not be riding for us in 2010. I hope that USADA comes to the correct and fair solution in this, and every, anti-doping case,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports.[...]

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Spaniard Toni Colom has asked that the Spanish Cycling Federation drop his temporary doping suspension, and says that there are just too many errors in the case. His provisional suspension came via the UCI back in June, after he tested positive for EPO in April. His blood profile and race schedule are key components in Colom’s suspension. Spanish newspaper Diario de Mallorca reports that Colom and his attorney have filed a 50-page appeal. Colom maintains his innocence, and says that the case is “riddled with flaws,” saying that it’s a “disaster.” He has asked the Real Federacion Española to issue him a license for 2010, as well as to give him financial acquittal.[...]

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Italian Davide Rebellin plans to prove his innocence in regards to charges that he used the banned blood-booster CERA during the Beijing Olympics. “There is nothing to confess. I never used CERA,” he said to Italian Gazzetta dello Sport. “There will always be someone who will think that I doped. I respect that everyone has to say what he thinks. But I’m going to hold my head high,” he adds. Rebellin has already returned his silver medal since testing positive for EPO. Rebellin and his attorney are prepared to bring evidence to the table proving that he didn’t dope, finding that there are “too many mysteries in the affair” and “regulations not complied with, principles violated.” Despite the ongoing charges, Rebellin continues to train and plans to return to cycling. “The day after I heard the news I went out on my bike. And I have never stopped since then,” Rebellin said. “I always say to myself: Why did this thing happen to me? There are many questions. And I’ll prove, if I can, that I am innocent.”[...]

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French officials have announced that they are investigating some blood doping equipment which was found in a search of Astana’s medical supplies. French newspaper Le Monde was first to report on the find, and a source has confirmed so today. Even though blood transfusions are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the source said that the possession of the equipment does not automatically mean a doping violation has been committed. “No trace of any doping product has for the time being been uncovered by the analysis of this material,” says the source. Anti-hypertensive products were also found during the search. While they are not banned, they can be used to treat hypertension which comes along with blood doping.

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Italian cyclist Danilo Di Luca was provisionally suspended by the UCI on July 22nd after he tested positive for CERA. He will now have a hearing on February 1st, 2010, for the offenses committed in this year’s Giro d’Italia. He ended up finishing the Giro in second place overall. The CONI, or Italian Olympic Authority, is going after a three year ban for Di Luca; two years for the initial doping offense, and another year for “aggravating circumstances.” 33-year-old Di Luca is maintaining his innocence. He has also been released by his team, LPR Brakes, on August 12th. If Di Luca is found guilty, he will face a minimum two-year ban, and he will also have to pay a fine the amount of his 2009 salary as well as other fees.[...]

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