List of doping cases in cycling
Encyclopedia
The following is an incomplete list of doping cases and recurring accusations of doping in professional cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

, where doping means "use of physiological substances or abnormal method to obtain an artificial increase of performance". It is neither a 'list of shame' nor a list of illegality, as the first laws weren't passed until 1965 and their implementation is an ongoing developing process. Thus the list contains doping incidents, those who have tested positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

, prohibited recreational drugs or have been suspended by a sporting body for failure to submit to mandatory drug testing. It also contains and clarifies cases where subsequent evidence and explanation has shown the parties to be innocent of illegal practice.

In 1963 the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

 gave a definition of doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

.

"Doping means to make use of physiological substances in immoderate quantity or abnormal method from healthy people whose only aim is to obtain an artificial increase of the performance during the competition". or ...


"The administration of or use by a competing athlete of any substance foreign to the body or any physiologic substance taken in abnormal quantity or taken by an abnormal route of entry into the body with the sole intention of increasing in an artificial and unfair manner his/her performance in competition. When necessity demands medical treatment with any substance which, because of its nature, dosage, or application is able to boost the athlete's performance in competition in an artificial and unfair manner, this too is regarded as doping.".


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Contents
1886
1896 1897
1904
1911
1924
1930
1949
1955 1956 1958 1959
1960 1962 1964 1965 1966 1967 1969
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011
See also — External links


1886

In 1886 an English cyclist is popularly reputed to have died after drinking a blend of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...

, caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...

 and strychnine
Strychnine
Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...

, supposedly in the Bordeaux–Paris race. This was included in the 1997 International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...

 study on the Historical Evolution of Doping Phenomenon, and listed as the presumed first death due to doping during a competition. The report did allow that in this period it was common practice, and not illegal. This is alternatively reported as trimethyl poisoning. However, the main Bordeaux–Paris race did not start until 1891, and the cyclist who supposedly died in 1886, Arthur Linton, actually finished second in 1896 and died a few weeks later, reportedly from a combination of drug induced exhaustion and typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...

. Linton was managed by the notorious Choppy Warburton
Choppy Warburton
James Edward 'Choppy' Warburton was an English record-breaking runner and a cycling coach. His career in cycling has frequent claims that he drugged riders to make them ride faster.-Origins:...

 - See 1896 below. The story may be apocryphal.

1896

  • Arthur Linton from Aberdare
    Aberdare
    Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...

     in Wales
    Wales
    Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

     died aged 24 of 'exhaustion and typhoid fever' a few weeks after finishing second in the Bordeaux–Paris race and a race at Catford
    Catford
    Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...

    . Linton was managed by the notorious Choppy Warburton
    Choppy Warburton
    James Edward 'Choppy' Warburton was an English record-breaking runner and a cycling coach. His career in cycling has frequent claims that he drugged riders to make them ride faster.-Origins:...

    , whose success was questioned, with claims that he drugged his charges. Jimmy Michael
    Jimmy Michael
    Jimmy Michael , was a Welsh world cycling champion and one of the top riders in the sport for several years.-Origins:...

     is said to have accused Warburton of poisoning him, before he was taken to court for libel. Rudiger Rabenstein claims that Arthur Linton was "massively doped" for the 1896 Bordeaux–Paris. The British and French cycling union announced that Michael would be banned, even though there was no rule at that time against doping. In the end, Michael was not banned, but he left to ride in the United States.


Nitroglycerine was used to stimulate the heart after cardiac attacks and was credited with improving riders' breathing. Riders suffered hallucinations from the exhaustion and perhaps the drugs. The American champion Marshall Taylor
Marshall Taylor
Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor was an American cyclist who won the world track cycling championship in 1899 after setting numerous world records and overcoming racial discrimination...

 refused to continue a New York race, saying: "I cannot go on with safety, for there is a man chasing me around the ring with a knife in his hand."

1897

  • Choppy Warburton
    Choppy Warburton
    James Edward 'Choppy' Warburton was an English record-breaking runner and a cycling coach. His career in cycling has frequent claims that he drugged riders to make them ride faster.-Origins:...

     of Haslingden
    Haslingden
    Haslingden is a small town in Rossendale, Lancashire, England. It is north of Manchester. The name means 'valley of the hazels', though the town is in fact set on a high and windy hill. In the early 20th century Haslingden had the status of a municipal borough, but following local government...

    , England died aged 52. He was described by the Lancashire Family History Society:

Warburton was banned from the sport after unproven claims of massive doping in the 1896 Bordeaux–Paris. His activities may have contributed to the early deaths of Arthur Linton, Tom Linton and Jimmy Michael
Jimmy Michael
Jimmy Michael , was a Welsh world cycling champion and one of the top riders in the sport for several years.-Origins:...

.

1904

  • Jimmy Michael
    Jimmy Michael
    Jimmy Michael , was a Welsh world cycling champion and one of the top riders in the sport for several years.-Origins:...

     of Wales
    Wales
    Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

    , world cycling champion, died aged 27, en voyage to New York
    New York
    New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

    . The cause of death was noted as delirium tremens
    Delirium tremens
    Delirium tremens is an acute episode of delirium that is usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol, first described in 1813...

    , probably brought on by drinking. Michael was managed by the notorious Choppy Warburton
    Choppy Warburton
    James Edward 'Choppy' Warburton was an English record-breaking runner and a cycling coach. His career in cycling has frequent claims that he drugged riders to make them ride faster.-Origins:...

     whose success was questioned, with claims that he drugged his charges. Michael was reported to have taken a potion and within a few laps collapsed on the track, picked himself up and then in a daze, set off in the wrong direction. Michael is said to have accused Warburton of poisoning him, before he was taken to court for libel.

1911

  • Paul Duboc
    Paul Duboc
    Paul Duboc was a French professional road bicycle racer from 1907 through 1927. Despite winning 5 career stages in the Tour de France, he may be most remembered for being disqualified at the 1919 Tour de France for borrowing a car to go and repair his pedal axle.In 1911, Duboc was close to...

     of France was doped/poisoned during the Tour de France. He was favourite but collapsed in a ditch in the Pyrenees after drinking from a spiked/poisoned bottle, allegedly given by a rival team manager. He finished in second place.

1924

  • Henri Pélissier
    Henri Pélissier
    Henri Pélissier was a French racing cyclist from Paris and champion of the 1923 Tour de France. In addition to his 29 career victories, he was known for his long-standing feud with Tour founder Henri Desgrange and for protesting against the conditions endured by riders in the early years of the Tour...

    , Francis Pélissier
    Francis Pélissier
    Francis Pélissier was a French professional road racing cyclist from Paris. He was the younger brother of Tour de France winner Henri Pélissier, and the older brother of Tour de France stage winner Charles Pélissier. He won several classic cycle races like Paris–Tours, Bordeaux–Paris and Grand...

    , Charles Pélissier
    Charles Pélissier
    Charles Pélissier was a French racing cyclist, professional between 1922 and 1939, who won 16 stages in the Tour de France. The number of eight stages won in the 1930 Tour de France is still a record, shared with Eddy Merckx and Freddy Maertens...

     of France. In 1924, following their abandon of the Tour de France, the first real drug scandal arose when the Pélissier brothers gave an extraordinary interview to journalist Albert Londres. They said that they used Strychnine
    Strychnine
    Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...

    , cocaine
    Cocaine
    Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...

    , chloroform
    Chloroform
    Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...

    , aspirin
    Aspirin
    Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...

    , "horse ointment" and others drugs to keep going. The story was published in 'Le Petit Parisien
    Le Petit Parisien
    Le Petit Parisien was a prominent French newspaper during the French Third Republic. It was published between 1876 and 1944, and its circulation was over 2 million after the First World War.-Publishing:...

    ' under the title 'Les Forçats de la Route' ('The Convicts of the Road'). Francis is reported as saying "In short, we run on dynamite." Henri is reported as saying "Do you know how we keep going? Look, this is cocaine, chloroform, too. And pills? You want to see pills? Here are three boxes - We run on dynamite." Francis Pélissier said much later: "Londres was a famous reporter but he didn't know about cycling. We kidded him a bit with our cocaine and our pills." Even so, the Tour de France in 1924 was no picnic. See Doping at the Tour de France - The Convicts of the Road.

1930

The acceptance of drug-taking in the Tour de France was so complete by 1930 that the rule book, distributed by Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange was a French bicycle racer and sports journalist. He set 12 world track cycling records, including the hour record of 35.325 kilometres on 11 May 1893. He was the first organiser of the Tour de France.-Origins:Henri Desgrange was one of two brothers, twins...

, reminded riders that drugs would not be provided by the organisers.

1949

  • Fausto Coppi
    Fausto Coppi
    Angelo Fausto Coppi, , was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions...

     of Italy admitted in a television interview (date unknown) that he used 'la Bomba' as there was no alternative if you wanted to remain competitive. This referred to amphetamines, which had been developed for military use during World War II to keep aircrew, merchant seamen and submariners awake, alert and energetic. After the war they found a ready market among endurance sportsmen. Coppi also said, "One day I will take the wrong pill and pedal backward." He also joked on camera that he only took drugs when absolutely necessary, which is nearly always.

1955

  • Jean Malléjac
    Jean Malléjac
    Jean Malléjac was a professional French road bicycle racer.-Career:Malléjac was born at Dirinon. Previously a worker in the munitions factory in Brest, he was professional from 1950 with the Stella-Dunlop team...

     of France collapsed on Mont Ventoux
    Mont Ventoux
    Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...

     during the 1955 Tour de France; it was widely attributed to drug abuse. Ten kilometres from the summit he was: "Streaming with sweat, haggard and comatose, he was zigzagging and the road wasn't wide enough for him... He was already no longer in the real world, still less in the world of cyclists and the Tour de France." Malléjac collapsed, falling to the ground with one foot still trapped in a pedal. The other leg pedalled on in the air. He was "completely unconscious, his face the colour of a corpse, a freezing sweat ran on his forehead. He regained consciousness after 15 minutes attention, oxygen, water, and an injection of solucamphre (a decongestant
    Decongestant
    A decongestant or nasal decongestant is a type of drug that is used to relieve nasal congestion.-Pharmacology:The vast majority of decongestants act via enhancing norepinephrine and epinephrine or adrenergic activity by stimulating the α-adrenergic receptors...

    ). In the ambulance he insisted that he had been drugged against his will and that he wanted to start legal proceedings. He denied wrongdoing right up to his death in September 2000.

1956

  • Following the 14th Stage of the 1956 Tour de France, the entire Belgian team went down with a mystery illness. It was officially attributed to their having eaten 'bad fish' at dinner, an excuse also used in 1962 and 1991.

1958

  • Roger Rivière
    Roger Rivière
    Roger Rivière was a French track and road bicycle racer. He raced as a professional from 1957 to 1960....

     of France admitted, after his career was finished, to having taken "amphetamine
    Amphetamine
    Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...

    s and solucamphre" during his hour record of 1958—including taking tablets during the attempt.

1959

  • Charly Gaul
    Charly Gaul
    Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...

     from Luxembourg was implicated in July when French customs confiscated pills that were destined for him.

1960

  • Knud Enemark Jensen
    Knud Enemark Jensen
    Knud Enemark Jensen was a Danish cyclist who died while participating in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. He is notable for having been involved in an early doping scandal....

     of Denmark participated in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome riding under the influence of amphetamines, he collapsed during the 100 km team time trial during the Games, fracturing his skull, and in a nearby Rome hospital shortly thereafter, he was pronounced dead. The autopsy showed he had taken amphetamine
    Amphetamine
    Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...

     and another drug, Ronicol (Ronicol Retard) (nicotinyl alcohol tartrate), a direct-acting peripheral vasodilator that causes flushing and may decrease blood pressure. (He was also reported as swallowing 8 pills of phenylisopropylamine, 15 pills of amphetamine and coffee.) The chairman of the Dutch cycling federation, Piet van Dijk, said of Rome that "dope - whole cartloads -[were] used in such royal quantities." Jensen's death led to pressure on the International Olympic Committee
    International Olympic Committee
    The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...

    , which studied a report on doping drawn up by doctors demanding dope controls.

  • Gastone Nencini
    Gastone Nencini
    Gastone Nencini was an Italian road racing cyclist who won the 1960 Tour de France and the 1957 Giro d'Italia....

     of Italy, was discovered by Tour de France doctor Pierre Dumas in his bedroom with plastic tubes running from each arm to a bottle of blood; retransfusion was a legal practice at the time. In the 1930s Scandinavian runners were believed to have used retransfusion to increase the number of corpuscles that carry oxygen to the muscles. In 1972, Dr Björn Ekblom of the Sport and Gymnastics Institute in Stockholm found that retransfusing cells increased oxygen uptake by nine per cent and athletic potential by 23 per cent.

  • Roger Rivière
    Roger Rivière
    Roger Rivière was a French track and road bicycle racer. He raced as a professional from 1957 to 1960....

     of France, admitted that his career ending crash in the 1960 Tour de France was probably attributable to using Palfium
    Dextromoramide
    Dextromoramide is a powerful opioid analgesic approximately three times more potent than morphine but shorter acting. It is subject to drug prohibition regimes, both internationally through UN treaties, and by the criminal law of individual states...

     (Dextromoramide
    Dextromoramide
    Dextromoramide is a powerful opioid analgesic approximately three times more potent than morphine but shorter acting. It is subject to drug prohibition regimes, both internationally through UN treaties, and by the criminal law of individual states...

    ), a painkiller that affects reflexes and judgment, during the descent of the Col de Perjuret on Mont Aigoual
    Mont Aigoual
    Mont Aigoual is the highest point of the Gard département, France. It is part of the Massif Central, and it is located within the Cévennes National Park....

    . Palfium was used to deaden pain in leg muscles where it was directly injected, (sometimes while riding). It was suggested that it had so numbed Riviere's fingers so that he couldn't feel the brake levers. He said he had an injection of solucamphor and amphetamine before the start and swallowed several amphetamine tablets. He said he was an addict who downed thousands of pills a year.

1962

The Wiel's-Groene Leeuw affair. At the stage from Luchon to Carcassonne of the 1962 Tour de France, twelve riders fell ill and said 'bad fish' was the cause. Tour doctor Pierre Dumas
Pierre Dumas
Pierre Dumas was a French doctor who pioneered drug tests in the Olympic Games and cycling. He was doctor of the Tour de France from 1952 to 1969 and head of drug-testing at the race until 1977.-Background:...

 realized they had all been given the same drug by the same soigneur. Hans Junkermann
Hans Junkermann
Hennes "Hans" Junkermann is a retired German professional racing cyclist who won 35 road races in 18 seasons from 1956 to 1973....

 of Germany had been ill overnight so the start was delayed by 10 minutes, but at the first hill he got off his bike and sat by the roadside, telling onlookers "I ate bad fish at the hotel last night." Eleven other riders abandoned the Tour that day, including the former leader, Willy Schroeders
Willy Schroeders
Willy Schroeders is a former Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was professional from 1955 to 1965...

, the 1960 winner Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini was an Italian road racing cyclist who won the 1960 Tour de France and the 1957 Giro d'Italia....

 and a future leader, Karl-Heinz Kunde
Karl-Heinz Kunde
Karl-Heinz Kunde is a German former racing cyclist.Kunde started his cycling career in 1959 as amateur. In 1962 he became professional. His biggest success was in the 1966 Tour de France, where he wore the yellow jersey for five days...

. Jacques Goddet
Jacques Goddet
Jacques Goddet was a French sports journalist and director of the Tour de France from 1936 to 1986....

 wrote that he suspected doping but nothing was proven - other than that none of the hotels had served fish the previous night.

1965

  • Jacques Anquetil
    Jacques Anquetil
    Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...

     of France never hid that he took drugs - a common practice at the time - and in a debate with a government minister on French television said that only a fool would imagine it was possible to ride Bordeaux–Paris on just water. He and other cyclists had to ride through "the cold, through heatwaves, in the rain and in the mountains", and they had the right to treat themselves as they wished, he said in a television interview, before adding: "Leave me in peace; everybody takes dope." There was implied acceptance of doping right to the top of the state: the president, Charles de Gaulle
    Charles de Gaulle
    Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....

    , said of Anquetil: "Doping? What doping? Did he or did he not make them play the Marseillaise [the French national anthem] abroad?" The veteran reporter Pierre Chany
    Pierre Chany
    Pierre Chany was a French cycling journalist. He covered the Tour de France 49 times and was for a long time the main cycling writer for the daily newspaper, L'Équipe.- Biography :...

     said: "Jacques had the strength - for which he was always criticised - to say out loud what others would only whisper. So, when I asked him 'What have you taken?' he didn't drop his eyes before replying. He had the strength of conviction."

  • French amateurs André Bayssière and Charly Grosskost
    Charly Grosskost
    Charly Grosskost was a French racing cyclist who in 1968 won the prologue time-trial of both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France...

     collapsed in the Tour de l'Avenir
    Tour de l'Avenir
    Tour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...

     in July. They were banned when they confessed to using amphetamines.

  • Peter Post
    Peter Post
    Peter Post was a Dutch professional cyclist whose career lasted from 1956 to 1972. Post competed in road and track racing. As a rider he is best remembered for Six-day racing, having competed in 155 races and won 65. Because of this success he was known as “De Keizer van de Zesdaagse” or “The...

     of the Netherlands acknowledged that he had doped at the Tour de France.

  • Luis Santamarina of Spain was disqualified from the Milk Race in Great Britain, as one of three competitors who were caught in the first official blood tests. (See below - Performance-enhancing drugs became illegal) Having won a stage which started at Scarborough and crossed Rosedale Chimney, riding ahead of the race on one of the race's hardest climbs. He rode into the back of a car parked beside the road as an official waited to time him. He remounted and won the stage and led the race. Two days later he and three others were disqualified for doping. The Spanish team went home.


Performance-enhancing drugs became illegal on 1 June 1965. The first riders to be caught were three amateurs, two Spanish (Luis Santamarina) and one British, who were thrown out of the Milk Race when they tested positive for amphetamines after Professor Arnold Beckett first applied sensitive gas chromatographic techniques to monitor drug abuse.

1966

On 29 July testing began at the Tour de France. Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor , is a former professional bicycle racer. He was known as the eternal second, because he finished the Tour de France in second place three times, and in third place five times, including his final Tour at the age of 40...

 was the first rider to be tested in the Tour at the end of a stage to Bordeaux. He said "I was strolling down the corridor in ordinary clothes when I came across two guys who asked if I was a rider. They made me go into a room, I pissed into some bottles and they closed them without sealing them. Then they took my name, my date of birth, without asking for anything to check my identity. I could have been anyone, and they could have done anything they liked with the bottles." Next morning, on the way to the Pyrenees the riders climbed off, began walking and shouting protests.

1967

  • Tom Simpson
    Tom Simpson
    Tom Simpson was the most successful English road racing cyclist of the post-war years. He infamously died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in 1967...

     of Great Britain died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux
    Mont Ventoux
    Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...

     during the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France
    1967 Tour de France
    The 1967 Tour de France was the 54th Tour de France, taking place June 29 to July 23, 1967. It consisted of 22 stages over 4780 km, ridden at 35.018 km/h...

    . The post mortem found that he had taken amphetamines and alcohol, a diuretic combination which proved fatal when combined with the hot conditions, the notoriously hard climb of the Ventoux and a pre-existing stomach complaint. Investigators discovered more drugs in his hotel room at Sète
    Sète
    Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....

     and the pockets of his jersey

  • Evert Dolman
    Evert Dolman
    Evert Gerardus Dolman was a Dutch racing cyclist, who won the gold medal in the men's 100 km team trial at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, alongside Gerben Karstens, Bart Zoet, and Jan Pieterse...

     of the Netherlands, was stripped of his 1967 Dutch National Road Race Championship
    Dutch National Road Race Championship
    The Dutch National Road Race Championships take place annually, on the weekend prior to the start of the Tour de France. First held in 1888, today it is organized by the Top Sports Group, commissioned by the KNWU.- Men:...

     title because of doping.

1969

  • Eddy Merckx
    Eddy Merckx
    Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...

     of Belgium tested positive for the stimulant Reactivan at Savona
    Savona
    Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....

     during the 1969 Giro d'Italia
    1969 Giro d'Italia
    The 1969 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 52nd edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 16 May to 8 June 1969. It consisted of 23 stages and was won by Felice Gimondi....

    , after leading the race through 16 stages. Merckx was found positive at doping control and expelled from the Giro. Merckx steadfastly denied the charges. The controversy began to swirl when his test results were not handled in the ordinary manner. The positive doping control was released to the press before all parties (Merckx and team officials) involved were notified.

  • Joaquim Agostinho
    Joaquim Agostinho
    Joaquim Fernandes Agostinho, OIH was a Portuguese professional bicycle racer. He was champion of Portugal in six successive years. He rode the Tour de France 13 times and finished all but once, winning on Alpe d'Huez in 1979, and finishing 3rd twice...

     of Portugal tested positive in the Tour of Portugal. He subsequently tested positive again in 1973, and the Tour de France of 1977.

1972

  • Jaime Huélamo
    Jaime Huélamo
    Jaime Huélamo is a former road racing cyclist from Spain, who was a professional rider from 1973 to 1975. He represented his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where he finished third in the men's individual road race but was disqualified and stripped of the bronze...

     of Spain finished third in the 1972 Summer Olympics men's individual road race
    Cycling at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's individual road race
    In cycling at the 1972 Summer Olympics, the men's individual road race was held on 7 September. A total of 76 cyclists finished the race.-Irish protesters:...

     but was later disqualified after he tested positive for coramine.

  • Aad van den Hoek
    Aad van den Hoek
    Aad van den Hoek is a former Dutch cyclist. He was professional between 1974 and 1983 and was good friends with Gerrie Knetemann...

     of the Netherlands tested positive for Coramine at the Munich Olympics, a drug allowed by the International Cyclists' Union but not the IOC.

1973

  • Eddy Merckx
    Eddy Merckx
    Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...

     tested positive for a banned substance in the Giro di Lombardia classic. He was disqualified from first place. Runner-up Felice Gimondi
    Felice Gimondi
    Felice Gimondi is an Italian former professional racing cyclist.With his 1968 victory at the Vuelta a España, only three years after becoming a professional cyclist, Gimondi, nicknamed "The Phoenix", was the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours of road cycling: Tour de France , Giro...

     was declared the winner.

1974

In 1974, an advance in testing caught 13 prominent riders including Herman van Springel
Herman Van Springel
Herman van Springel is a Belgian former road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk, in the Flemish Campine or Kempen region.He was an accomplished time-trial rider, almost winning the Tour de France in 1968, when he was beaten in the last stage by Dutchman, Jan Janssen in a time-trial...

.
  • Roger Legeay
    Roger Legeay
    Roger Legeay is a French former professional racing cyclist and the manager of Crédit Agricole cycling team. Legeay had managed the Peugeot cycling team in its last year of existence in 1986, before it was reinvented as Z-Peugeot. The team was renamed GAN in 1994 under new sponsorship and once...

     of France tested positive for amphetamines at the Paris - Nice race.

  • Claude Tollet
    Claude Tollet
    Claude Tollet was a French professional road bicycle racer, who won stage 17 in the 1973 Tour de France.- Palmarès :19721973- External links :*...

     of France tested positive for amphetamines at the Tour de France.

1975

  • Bernard Thévenet
    Bernard Thévenet
    Bernard Thévenet, born 10 January 1948, in Saint-Julien-de-Civry, Saône-et-Loire, is a retired French bicycle racer. He is a two-time winner of the Tour de France and known for ending the reign of five-time Tour champion Eddy Merckx...

     of France won the 1975 Tour de France
    1975 Tour de France
    The 1975 Tour de France was the 62nd Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 20, 1975. It consisted of 22 stages over 3999 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.899 km/h. Eddy Merckx was attempting to win his sixth Tour de France, but became a victim of violence. Many Frenchmen were...

     by using cortisone
    Cortisone
    Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...

    . In 1982, after retiring from racing, he said "I was doped with cortisone for three years and there were many like me"... "The experience ruined my health".Chany, Pierre: L'angoissant combat de Bernard Thévenet, Vélo, France, no 125, 1978

  • Erik de Vlaeminck of Belgium, never failed a drugs test in his racing career, but he was treated after it for amphetamine
    Amphetamine
    Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...

     addiction at a psychiatric institute. Many stories circulate about his supposed wild behaviour after races and after his career was over and when he returned to racing, the Belgian federation would offer him a licence for only a day at a time until it saw how his life would progress. He refuses to speak of this period of his life.

1976

  • Rachel Dard
    Rachel Dard
    Rachel Dard was a French professional cyclist said to have raced across France to avoid a positive dope finding and ended up in a row which exposed organised drug-taking in cycling in the 1970s.-Dope test:...

     of France was reported to have raced across France to avoid a positive dope finding and then ended up in a row which exposed organised drug-taking in cycling in the 1970s. Dard and a team-mate, Bourreau, were caught trying to defraud the doping control with a condom
    Condom
    A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...

     of untainted urine in their shorts to give the impression they were urinating. A few weeks later Dard went to L'Équipe and spilled the inside story, including the prescriptions for dope that Bellocq, the team doctor, had given him. He said riders treated with cortisone and steroids were now in "a pitiful state".
  • In the 1976 Vuelta a España
    1976 Vuelta a España
    The 31st Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from 27 April to 16 May 1976. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,340 km, and was won by José Pesarrodona of the Kas-Campagnolo cycling team...

    , Belgian cyclist Eric Jacques took over the lead in the eighth stage, but it was later revealed that he failed a doping test, and he was penalized by ten minutes.

1977

  • Bernard Thévenet of France won the 1977 Tour de France
    1977 Tour de France
    The 1977 Tour de France was the 64th Tour de France, taking place June 30 to July 24, 1977. The total race distance was 22 stages over 4096 km, with riders averaging 35.419 km/h....

     with the aid of cortisone.

  • Joop Zoetemelk
    Joop Zoetemelk
    Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk is a retired professional racing cyclist from the Netherlands who has emigrated to France. He started the Tour de France 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth and second...

     of the Netherlands tested positive for Pemoline
    Pemoline
    Pemoline was first synthesized in 1913 but it's activity was not discovered until the 1930s. Under the names it was used as a medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, it is a Schedule IV drug...

     in the 1977 Tour de France, although Pemoline was a legal substance at that time. In the 1979 Tour de France he tested positive for 'hormones'.

  • The Belgian doctor, Professor Michel Debackere, perfected a test for pémoline
    Pemoline
    Pemoline was first synthesized in 1913 but it's activity was not discovered until the 1930s. Under the names it was used as a medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, it is a Schedule IV drug...

    , an amphetamine-like drug, and caught three of the biggest names in Belgium: Eddy Merckx
    Eddy Merckx
    Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...

    , Freddy Maertens
    Freddy Maertens
    Freddy Maertens is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist and twice World Road Race Champion.- Career :...

     and Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1973. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1977 Giro d'Italia....

    .

1978

  • Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1973. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1977 Giro d'Italia....

     of Belgium was caught trying to cheat the drugs control with someone else's urine in a rubber bulb in his shorts after victory at L'Alpe d'Huez. He was ejected from the Tour. Ironically his own urine tested negative. See Doping at the Tour de France - The Pollentier incident

  • José Nazabal
    José Nazabal
    José Nazábal Mimendia is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.He was born at Zaldivia. In 1977, Nazabal won a stage in both the Vuelta a España and in the Tour de France.- Palmarès :*1976**GP Navarra*1977...

     of Spain anticipated a positive test at the Tour de France, and so left the race immediately after being tested. See Doping at the Tour de France - The Pollentier incident

  • Antoine Gutierrez of Spain caused doctor Le Calvez to be suspicious during a test, thus raising his jersey to reveal a system of tubes and a bottle of urine. See Doping at the Tour de France - The Pollentier incident

  • Gilbert Glaus
    Gilbert Glaus
    Gilbert Glaus was a Swiss professional road bicycle racer. In 1983, Glaus won a stage in the 1983 Tour de France, but in the 1984 Tour de France he was the Lanterne rouge .- Palmarès :...

     of Switzerland, the World Amateur Champion, tested positive for steroids.

  • Jean-Luc van den Broucke of Belgium confessed that "In the Tour de France, I took steroids. That is not a stimulant, just a strengthener. If I hadn't, I would have had to give up. What do you think? I'm on the bike all year from February onwards, I have to do well in the classics in all the little races, and also in the Tour de France. On the first rest day, before we went into the Pyrenees, I had a first hormone injection. I had another one on the second day, at the start of the last week. You can't call that medically harmful, not if it's done under a doctor's control and within reason." See Doping at the Tour de France - Steroids and allied drugs

1979

During the 1979 Tour de France
1979 Tour de France
The 1979 Tour de France was the 66th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 22, 1979. The total race distance was 24 stages over 3765 km, with riders averaging 36.513 km/h. It was the only tour to finish at L'Alpe d'Huez twice. It was won by Bernard Hinault, who also won the points...

, the leader of the mountains classification Giovanni Battaglin
Giovanni Battaglin
Giovanni Battaglin is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1981 Giro d'Italia. He also won the 1981 Vuelta a España.-Early years:...

 tested positive for doping in stage 13. He was penalized by 10 minutes in the general classification, lost the points that he earned in stage 13 and received 10 penalty points in the mountains classification. Battaglin was still able to win the mountains classification.

Frans Van Looy and Gilbert Chaumaz also tested positive for doping during the Tour. After the Tour de France had finished, Joop Zoetemelk
Joop Zoetemelk
Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk is a retired professional racing cyclist from the Netherlands who has emigrated to France. He started the Tour de France 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth and second...

 was found to have used doping, which he confessed later. Zoetemelk was penalized by 10 minutes in the general classification, but kept his second place.

1980

  • Vicente López Carril
    Vicente López Carril
    Vicente López Carril was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist from A Coruña. He finished among the first ten rider in the overall classification of several Grand Tours and third in 1974 Tour de France...

     of Spain, died on 29 March 1980 aged 37 from a heart attack. His death was noted by Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     in his book Massacre à la chaîne although he acknowledged the impossibility of proving the link between these early deaths and the drugs taken while racing.

  • Freddy Maertens
    Freddy Maertens
    Freddy Maertens is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist and twice World Road Race Champion.- Career :...

     of Belgium, admitted to the French newspaper L'Équipe, after his retirement, that "like everyone else", he had used amphetamines in round-the-houses races but he insisted that he had ridden without drugs in important races - not least because he knew he would be tested for them.

  • Dietrich Thurau
    Dietrich Thurau
    Dietrich Thurau is a retired German professional road bicycle racer. His biggest career achievements include winning the one-day classic, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, his home country's Deutschland Tour and surprising the field at the 1977 Tour de France by capturing four stages and holding the yellow...

     ("Didi") of Germany tested positive on 3 occasions in 1980 and again in 1987. After he stopped his career in 1989, he admitted in an interview in Bild that he used doping, and that most cyclists did.

1982

  • Maarten Ducrot
    Maarten Ducrot
    Maarten Ducrot is a former Dutch professional road bicycle racer, and currently cycling reporter for the Dutch television....

     was a Dutch
    Netherlands
    The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

     professional road bicycle racer. In January 2000, on the Dutch TV-show Reporter, he admitted that he had used cortisone and testosterone, as well as Synacthen, "a very bad medicine", and he still regrets using it. Ducrot said he experimented with synacthen in 1982 when he was an amateur.

  • Angel Arroyo
    Ángel Arroyo
    Angel Arroyo Lanchas is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. In the 1983 Tour de France, Arroyo won one stage and finished 2nd place in the general classification....

     of Spain, received a penalty for testing positive for the stimulant Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (Ritalin) on stage 17 of the 1982 Vuelta a España
    1982 Vuelta a España
    The 37th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 20 to May 9, 1982. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3456 km, and was won by Marino Lejarreta of the Teka cycling team.The Reynolds team controlled the race after team...

    . This effectively stripped him of his victory and placed him 13th. Three other riders also failed the doping test after stage 17: Alberto Fernández
    Alberto Fernández (cyclist)
    Alberto Fernández Blanco was a Spanish road racing cyclist. His son Alberto Fernández Sainz is also a road racing cyclist....

    , Vicente Belda
    Vicente Belda
    -External links:...

     and Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez
    Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez
    Pedro Muñóz Machín Rodríguez is a former Spanish professional road bicycle racer.- Palmarès :1981Pedro Muñóz Machín Rodríguez is a former Spanish professional road bicycle racer....

    . The four riders were said to have tested positive for Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (which is also known as Ritalin), a stimulant. Methylphenidate was a popular drug for doping in cycling at that time. Arroyo and his team denied the allegations and asked for a second analysis of the sample. The B analysis confirmed the first positive test. Arroyo was assigned a 10 minute penalty and stripped of his Vuelta win which was given to Lejarreta. With the 10 minute penalty Arroyo went down to 13th place in the classification. The disqualification of the winner of the Vuelta has been called the worst scandal that has ever hit the race on the official La Vuelta website.

  • Vicente Belda
    Vicente Belda
    -External links:...

     of Spain was said to have tested positive for Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (Ritalin), a stimulant on the Vuelta a España. Methylphenidate was a popular drug for doping in cycling at that time.

  • Marc Demeyer
    Marc Demeyer
    Marc Demeyer was a professional road racing cyclist from Avelgem, Belgium. He died of a heart attack at the age of 31....

     of Belgium died on 20 January 1982, aged 31 from a heart attack. His death was noted by Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     in his book Massacre à la chaîne although he acknowledged the impossibility of proving the link between these early deaths and the drugs taken while racing.

  • Alberto Fernández
    Alberto Fernández (cyclist)
    Alberto Fernández Blanco was a Spanish road racing cyclist. His son Alberto Fernández Sainz is also a road racing cyclist....

     of Spain was said to have tested positive for Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (Ritalin), a stimulant on the Vuelta a España.

  • Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier
    Michel Pollentier is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1973. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1977 Giro d'Italia....

     of Belgium tested positive on stage 17 of the 1982 Vuelta a España
    1982 Vuelta a España
    The 37th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 20 to May 9, 1982. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3456 km, and was won by Marino Lejarreta of the Teka cycling team.The Reynolds team controlled the race after team...

     for the stimulant Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (Ritalin).

  • Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez
    Pedro Muñoz Machín Rodríguez
    Pedro Muñóz Machín Rodríguez is a former Spanish professional road bicycle racer.- Palmarès :1981Pedro Muñóz Machín Rodríguez is a former Spanish professional road bicycle racer....

     of Spain was said to have tested positive for Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate
    Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

     (Ritalin), a stimulant on the Vuelta a España.

  • Steven Rooks
    Steven Rooks
    Steven Rooks is a former Dutch professional road racing cyclist known for his climbing ability. His professional career ran from 1982–1995.- Tour de France :...

     was a Dutch cyclist whose professional career ran from 1982–1995. On the Dutch TV-show Reporter in 2000, Rooks admitted (together with Maarten Ducrot
    Maarten Ducrot
    Maarten Ducrot is a former Dutch professional road bicycle racer, and currently cycling reporter for the Dutch television....

     and Peter Winnen
    Peter Winnen
    Peter Johannes Gertrudis Winnen is a Dutch former road racing cyclist. He was professional from 1980 until 1991. Among his 14 victories were two stages at Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France and a national championship. He came third in the Tour de France in 1983.-Results:1981...

    ) that they had doped in their careers. Rooks said he used testosterone and amphetamines during his whole 13 year career.

  • Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     wrote about Bert Oosterbosch
    Bert Oosterbosch
    Bert Oosterbosch was a Dutch racing cyclist. Oosterbosch was a successful track and road racer.-Early career:...

     riding the 1982 Grand Prix des Nations
    Grand Prix des Nations
    The Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...

     in his 2002 book Massacre à la Chaîne ("Breaking The Chain"). Oosterbosch was flat from the start due to the Synacten he had taken. The drugs initially blocked his ability to work hard. An hour after the injection it started working as planned and his tempo increased. Note - Voet may have been referring to the 1979 or 1984 events.

1983

  • Adri van der Poel
    Adri van der Poel
    Adrie van der Poel is a retired Dutch cyclist. The Grand Prix Adri van der Poel is named after him. Van der Poel was a professional from 1981 to 2000. His biggest wins included 6 classics, two stages of the Tour de France and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in 1996...

     the Dutch world cyclocross champion and Tour de France stage winner tested positive for strychnine
    Strychnine
    Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...

    . He said that his father-in-law, had served a pigeon pie for Sunday lunch, and only when he tested positive did he realise that the pigeons had been doped with strychnine.

1984

  • Francesco Moser
    Francesco Moser
    Francesco Moser , nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" , is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, and won the 1984 Giro d'Italia, the 1977 world road racing championship and six victories in three of the five Monuments...

     of Italy broke the hour record
    Hour record
    The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale . It is one of the most prestigious in cycling...

     of Eddy Merckx
    Eddy Merckx
    Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...

     in 1984. In 1999, he admitted blood doping to prepare for the attempt, helped by sports doctor Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi is an Italian sports doctor and scientist, with disciples such as Michele Ferrari and Luigi Cecchini. Conconi is a Professor at the University of Ferrara in Italy where he heads the Centro Studi Biomedici Applicati allo Sport or Biomedical Research Institute...

    . Such doping had not been declared illegal at the time.

  • John Beckman, Brent Emery
    Brent Emery
    Brent Emery was a cyclist for the United States at the Olympic at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He would win a silver medal in men's team pursuit .-References:...

    , Steve Hegg
    Steve Hegg
    Steve Edward Hegg is a retired track cyclist and road bicycle racer from the United States, who was a professional rider from 1988 to 2000...

    , Pat McDonough, Leonard Nitz
    Leonard Nitz
    Leonard Harvey Nitz is a retired track cyclist from the United States. He won the silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit and bronze in the 4000m individual pursuit at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.-References:*...

    , Rebecca Twigg
    Rebecca Twigg
    Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit...

     and Mark Whitehead
    Mark Whitehead
    Mark Whitehead was an American cyclist. He competed in the Men's points race at the 1984 Summer Olympics and won ten National championship titles.-References:...

     of the USA admitted to receiving blood transfusions in preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. (See Systematic Blood Doping below for details) The practice was not against Olympic rules although Games medical guidelines discouraged it. The USA team coach Eddie Borysewicz
    Eddie Borysewicz
    Edward 'Eddie B' Borysewicz is a cycling coach who brought the United States to world prominence, even though at first he barely spoke English. The US team, under his direction, won nine medals at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984...

     set up a clinic in motel room. The US federation banned blood-doping in January 1985.


Systematic Blood doping at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The USA cycling team's successes were coloured by revelations that riders had blood transfusions before their events, a practice known as blood-doping. The transfusions were to increase red blood cells in riders' blood. That would take more oxygen to their muscles. They received the blood of others with similar blood types. The practice, instigated by national coach Eddie Borysewicz
Eddie Borysewicz
Edward 'Eddie B' Borysewicz is a cycling coach who brought the United States to world prominence, even though at first he barely spoke English. The US team, under his direction, won nine medals at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984...

, was not against Olympic rules although Games medical guidelines discouraged it. Borysewicz and a colleague, Ed Burke, set up a clinic in a Los Angeles motel room and four of the seven athletes who had transfusions won medals. The US federation banned blood-doping in January 1985. Borysewicz and Burke were fined a month's pay. Mike Fraysse, a former president of the federation, was demoted from first to third vice-president.

Steve Hegg, won a gold and a silver; Rebecca Twigg
Rebecca Twigg
Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit...

, Pat McDonough and Leonard Nitz
Leonard Nitz
Leonard Harvey Nitz is a retired track cyclist from the United States. He won the silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit and bronze in the 4000m individual pursuit at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.-References:*...

 won silver medals. The others were John Beckman, Mark Whitehead and Brent Emery. They were identified in the subsequent inquiry as having had transfusions. The rest of the team had refused.

1986

  • Peter Winnen
    Peter Winnen
    Peter Johannes Gertrudis Winnen is a Dutch former road racing cyclist. He was professional from 1980 until 1991. Among his 14 victories were two stages at Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France and a national championship. He came third in the Tour de France in 1983.-Results:1981...

     is a Dutch
    Netherlands
    The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

     former road racing cyclist. He was professional from 1980 until 1991. In January 2000, on the Dutch TV-show Reporter, Winnen admitted that he had doped. He came third in the 1983 Tour de France (undoped) but he said that in the 1986 Tour de France "I was very bad and had the choice: go back to home or to provide me with testosterone." - Winnen reached Paris. During his career with Raleigh, Panasonic and Buckler, Winnen used testosterone, amphetamines and corticosteroids.

1987

  • Kim Andersen of Denmark tested positive for doping in 1987, and was banned for life, a sentence that was later changed to a one year quarantine. In 1992 he was tested positive again, and fired from his team. He rode as an individual for the rest of the year, before finally retiring.

1988

  • Pedro Delgado
    Pedro Delgado
    Pedro Delgado Robledo , also known as Perico, is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He won the 1988 Tour de France, as well as the Vuelta a España in 1985 and 1989....

     of Spain tested positive for probenecid
    Probenecid
    Probenecid is a uricosuric drug that increases uric acid excretion in the urine. It is primarily used in treating gout and hyperuricemia.Probenecid was developed as an alternative to caronamide...

     at the 1988 Tour de France
    1988 Tour de France
    The 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h...

    . Probenicid interferes with chemicals which the kidneys secrete, and thus aroused a suspicion that he was using it as a masking agent for steroid use. Though other sports governing bodies, such as the IOC, recognized probenecid as a doping agent, the Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     (UCI), which oversaw cycling, did not, and thus Delgado was allowed to continue in the event without sanction.

  • Gert-Jan Theunisse
    Gert-Jan Theunisse
    Gert-Jan Theunisse is a Dutch former road bicycle racer. In the 1989 Tour de France, he won the King of the Mountains competition.-Biography:...

     of the Netherlands tested positive for testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

     during the Tour de France and received a ten-minute penalty which moved him from fourth to eleventh place overall. He admitted in 2000 to using illegal substances during his career, according to an interview published by the Dutch regional newspaper Dutch "Eindhovens Dagblad". He confessed "to having used a great deal of Celestone", a corticoid, but he denied to having taken testosterone.

  • Geert Van de Walle
    Geert Van de Walle
    Geert Van de Walle was a Belgian cyclist. He was Belgian amateur champion in 1985, whereupon he immediately signed a contract with the Lotto team for whom he rode in 1986 and 1987...

     of Belgium died on 26 November 1988, aged 22, from a heart attack. His death was noted by Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     in his book Massacre à la chaîne although he acknowledged the impossibility of proving the link between these early deaths and the drugs taken while racing.

  • In 1988, the first rider was banned for using EPO.


The Emergence of EPO - In the late 1980s a genetically engineered drug created for people suffering from kidney failure became a substance abused by athletes seeking enhanced stamina and performance. The drug is recombinant erythropoietin
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

, known as EPO, which was developed by the Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...

 company. Recombinant EPO is a genetically engineered copy of a hormone normally produced in the kidney and was not detectable by any test at the time.

EPO stimulates the bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...

 in order to increase red blood cell
Red blood cell
Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system...

 production and thus the body's ability to carry oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...

. A study of 15 Swedish athletes by the Stockholm Institute of Gymnastics and Sports found an improvement of nearly 10 percent in aerobic performance
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic literally means "living in air", and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism...

. "Average" red blood cell volume of the population at sea level is about 45% red blood cells. About 5% of the population has less than 40% red blood cell, which is defined as "anemia" and 5% of the population, including many world class athletes, have a natural red blood cells volume of 50%... 1% of the population has 54% red blood cell volume.

The increased thickness of the blood (above 70% red blood cells) increases the risk of blood clotting which can block blood vessels causing a heart attack or stroke, especially in the middle of the night when the heart's rate is lowest. Doctors and blood specialists concluded that the drug could have been implicated in the deaths of as many as 18 European professional bicycle racers between 1987 and 1991. One of them was Johannes Draaijer, a 27-year-old Dutch rider who finished 130th in the 1989 Tour de France
1989 Tour de France
The 1989 Tour de France was the 76th Tour de France, a race of 21 stages and a prologue, over 3285 km in total. In the closest tour in history, Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds at the start of the final stage, a time trial into Paris. LeMond rode for an average speed of 54.55 km/h ,...

. Although the autopsy did not specify the cause of death Draaijer's wife later told the German news magazine Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...

that her husband became sick after using EPO.

1989

  • Laurent Fignon
    Laurent Fignon
    Laurent Patrick Fignon was a French professional road bicycle racer. He won the Tour de France in 1983 and in 1984. He missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by 8 seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the tour. He also won the Giro d'Italia in 1989, after having been the runner-up in 1984,...

     of France tested positive for amphetamines at the Grand Prix de la Liberation in Eindhoven on 17 September 1989.

  • Bert Oosterbosch
    Bert Oosterbosch
    Bert Oosterbosch was a Dutch racing cyclist. Oosterbosch was a successful track and road racer.-Early career:...

     of the Netherlands died on 18 August 1989, aged 32, from a heart attack and poor health. His death was noted by Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     in his book Massacre à la chaîne (translated as "Breaking the Chain") although he acknowledged the impossibility of proving the link between these early deaths and the drugs taken while racing. It is widely presumed, but not proven, that the death is attributable to EPO use but this is disputed. Voet also talked about Oosterbosch riding the 1982 Grand Prix des Nations
    Grand Prix des Nations
    The Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...

    . Oosterbosch was flat from the start due to the Synacten he had taken. The drugs initially blocked his ability to work hard. An hour after the injection it started working as planned and his tempo increased. In fact, Voet may have been referring to the 1979 or 1984 events.

  • Johan van der Velde
    Johan van der Velde
    Johan van der Velde is a former Dutch cyclist. In the 1980 Tour de France he won the Maillot blanc, or white jersey, for being the best young rider under 25, also placing 12th overall that year. He had been a racing cyclist for only a year...

     of the Netherlands undertook hospital treatment for his addiction to amphetamines at the end of his career. He said in an interview with the author Jan Siebelink
    Jan Siebelink
    Jan Siebelink is a Dutch author. In 2005, he wrote the novel Knielen op een bed violen that sold over 500,000 copies. In 1991, he won the Ferdinand Bordewijk Prijs for De overkant van de rivier....

     ("Pijn is genot") that he had trouble coping when that success began to dry up. Van der Velde said he remembered shivering at the start of an Italian race, the skin of his arms wrinkled in goosebumps, because of the amphetamine he had taken just to start. He was also disqualified from the 1981 Liège–Bastogne–Liège race.

  • Sean Yates
    Sean Yates
    Sean Yates is an English former professional cyclist and head Directeur Sportif at Team Sky.-Career:Yates competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics, finishing sixth in the 4,000m individual pursuit. He also competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics...

     tested positive in the first stage of Torhout-Werchter.

1990

  • Johannes Draaijer from the Netherlands. It is widely presumed, but not proven, that his death was attributable to EPO use. The autopsy did not specify the cause of death, but Draaijer's wife later told the German news magazine, Der Spiegel
    Der Spiegel
    Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...

    , that her husband became sick after using EPO.
  • Belgian Nico Emonds tested positive after winning the third stage of the 1990 Vuelta a España
    1990 Vuelta a España
    The 45th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 24 to May 15, 1990. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3711 km, and was won by Marco Giovannetti of the Seur cycling team.Defending champion Pedro Delgado was the...

    . He was stripped from his victory and set to the last place of the stage.

The PDM Affair, In November 1997, Cyclingnews.com reported about an inquiry that had just been made public in The Netherlands. This inquiry appeared to reveal doping in the PDM cycling team
PDM (cycling team)
PDM-Concorde also PDM-Ultima was a Dutch professional cycling team from 1986 until the end of 1992. Gin-MG was co-sponsor in Spanish races and Cidona was co-sponsor in the 1991 Nissan Classic. The team was sponsored by Philips Dupont Magnetics, a joint venture between the electronics company,...

. The doctor of the team from between 1990 and 1991 was Wim Sanders who was the centre of the investigation which was reported to have been initiated when the General Manager of the team, Manfred Krikke, called the FIOD
FIOD-ECD
The Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, in Dutch "Fiscale inlichtingen- en opsporingsdienst" is the Dutch Anti-Fraud agency.- History :The FIOD-ECD was formed when the FIOD and the ECD were merged in 1999.In 2010 the name changed into FIOD....

 (Fiscal Information and Investigation Service) to investigate the medical business of the team. It was said that Wim Sanders supplied anabolic steroids and EPO to the team and was responsible for the ‘intralipid affair’ of the 1991 Tour de France
1991 Tour de France
The 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *...

, when the entire team withdrew due to what was reported at the time as food poisoning. In a 2008 TV documentary; team members and team doctor Wim Sanders explain how the cause was in fact careless storage of Intralipid
Intralipid
Intralipid is a brand name for the first safe fat emulsion for human use, approved in 1962 in Europe and invented by Professor Arvid Wretlind, Sweden. The FDA initially would not approve the product due to prior experience with another fat emulsion. It was approved in the United States in 1972...

, a nutritional aid with which the team members had been injected.

According to cyclingnews.com, 1990 was the height of the drug taking in the team and during this year, two riders had to stop with acute heart problems; whether this refers to stopping with professional cycling or performance enhancing drugs is unclear. Team manager Gisbers denied any knowledge of doping in the team.

1991

  • Carey Hall, the Australian track cyclist, tested positive for the use of banned substances and lost the medal he won in the World Championship at Stuttgart and placed on probation for 6 months.

  • Sean Kelly
    Seán Kelly (cyclist)
    John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...

     of Ireland was described in Willy Voet's book 'Massacre à la Chaine': He won the Tour of Lombardy three times (1983, 1985, 1991 (also won amateur version in 1976)) and on at least one occasion he did it with the help of a corticoide injection. Kelly was controlled positive after Paris–Brussels in 1984 and that came as a surprise because he used the urine of a mechanic. But the mechanic was using a banned substance himself because he had to work long hours at night and needed the lift to stay awake."

  • Stephen Pate
    Stephen Pate
    Stephen Pate is an internationally competitive cyclist and former Olympian. After turning pro in 1986, Pate won three world pro medals and set as many world pro records for 200m, 500m, and 1 km. In 1991, he won a bronze medal at the World Professional Championship at Stuttgart...

    , the Australian track cyclist, tested positive for the use of banned substances and lost the medal he won in the World Championship at Stuttgart and placed on probation for 6 months.

  • Jesper Skibby
    Jesper Skibby
    Jesper Skibby was born 21 March 1964 in Silkeborg, Denmark. He was a professional rider in road bicycle racing, and one of the most popular in Denmark, not only because of his talent, but also because of his wit and his constant banter...

     of Denmark released his autobiography in November 2006, in which he confessed to having used doping for more than 10 years. In 1991 he started using steroids, in 1992 growth hormones and testosterone, and finally by 1993 he was also using EPO. He claimed that he requested the drugs himself, and he did not name any other riders or contacts in the book.


PDM. Some teams used sophisticated recovery techniques whereby riders were put on a drip during the night and fed nutrients such as Vitamin B12. This practice was blamed when the entire PDM team went down with a fever on the 10th Stage of the Tour de France. PDM management blamed a virus although only riders were infected. Ten days later a press release stated that the team had used recovery substances which were past their sell-by date.

1992

  • Jesper Worre
    Jesper Worre
    Jesper Worre, born in Frederiksberg, is a former Danish cycle racer, who is president of the Danmarks Cykle Union .- Biography :He was a professional between 1982 and 1992. He took part in the 1989 Tour de France. Worre tested positive for 1992, confessed the use of doping and received a...

     from Denmark tested positive for use of amineptine
    Amineptine
    Amineptine was developed by the French Society of Medical research in the 1960s. Under the trade-names is used as an atypical tricyclic antidepressant that selectively inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and to a lesser extent norepinephrine, thus exerting a powerful and fast-acting...

    , a stimulant drug, which had been prohibited on 1 January that same year. He admitted the offence and received a conditional quarantine. He is now particularly known for his strong and uncompromising struggle against the use of doping in professional cycling.

1993

  • Claudio Chiappucci
    Claudio Chiappucci
    Claudio Chiappucci is a retired Italian professional cyclist. He was on the podium three times in the Tour de France general classification - second in 1990, third in 1991 and second again in 1992.-Career:...

     from Italy, confessed in 1997 that he had used drugs from 1993–1995, but later retracted that statement. Chiappucci used the practice of Doctor Conconi, who was accused of applying EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     to cyclists. Conconi was found 'morally guilty', but was acquitted, because the crime had aged. The judge had looked at medical reports of 33 cyclists in the period 1993-1995, including Chiappucci's, and all blood tests showed largely fluctuating hematocrit-values, indicative for EPO-use.

  • Lennie Kristensen from Denmark tested positive for a stimulant drug. The Danish Cycling organisation banned him but the UCI did not.

  • Stephen Roche
    Stephen Roche
    Stephen Roche is a retired professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming only the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia stage races, plus the World road race championship...

     of Ireland. According to an investigation in Italy into the practices of Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi is an Italian sports doctor and scientist, with disciples such as Michele Ferrari and Luigi Cecchini. Conconi is a Professor at the University of Ferrara in Italy where he heads the Centro Studi Biomedici Applicati allo Sport or Biomedical Research Institute...

    , Roche was involved in the case, having received EPO in 1993 In May 1990, Paul Kimmage
    Paul Kimmage
    Paul Kimmage is an award-winning sports journalist who writes for the Sunday Times newspaper in the United Kingdom and is a former professional road bicycle racer.Kimmage was born into a cycling family...

     published Rough Ride
    Rough Ride
    Rough Ride is a William Hill Sports Book of the Year, written by Irish journalist Paul Kimmage in 1990.It is an autobiography that charts the author's upbringing in Dublin and his obsession with cycling, which started with his father being a top-level Irish amateur...

    exposing apparently endemic drug use in the peloton, and Roche threatened litigation. It was reported in the Rome newspaper, la Repubblica
    La Repubblica
    la Repubblica is an Italian daily general-interest newspaper. Founded in 1976 in Rome by the journalist Eugenio Scalfari, as of 2008 is the second largest circulation newspaper, behind the Corriere della Sera.-Foundation:...

    , in January 2000 that Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi
    Francesco Conconi is an Italian sports doctor and scientist, with disciples such as Michele Ferrari and Luigi Cecchini. Conconi is a Professor at the University of Ferrara in Italy where he heads the Centro Studi Biomedici Applicati allo Sport or Biomedical Research Institute...

    , a professor at the University of Ferrara
    University of Ferrara
    The University of Ferrara is the main university of the city of Ferrara in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. In the years prior to the First World War the University of Ferrara, with more than 500 students, was the best attended of the free universities in Italy...

     involved with administering EPO to riders on the with which Roche had some of his best years, had provided riders including Roche with EPO. Roche denied the allegations. This was further reported in the Irish Times several days later, Roche again denying EPO. In March 2000 the Italian judge Franca Oliva published a report detailing the investigation into sports doctors including Conconi. This official judicial investigation concluded that Roche was administered EPO in 1993, his last year in the peloton. Files part of the investigation allegedly detail a number of aliases for Roche including Rocchi, Rossi, Rocca, Roncati, Righi and Rossini. In 2004 Judge Oliva alleged that Roche had taken EPO during 1993 but due to the statute of limitations, neither Roche nor his team-mates at Carrera would be prosecuted.

1994

  • Joachim Halupczok from Poland - died, aged 26, on 5 February 1994. In 1988 he was the World Champion cyclist, Olympic Silver medalist, and was voted 'best athlete in Poland'. In 1990 he turned professional and took part in the World Championships in Japan, but in autumn that year health problems (heart arrhythmia) caused his retirement from the sport, aged 24. It was suspected that the problems was associated with the abuse of drugs (EPO). His death was also noted by disgraced soigneur Willy Voet
    Willy Voet
    Willy Voet is a Belgian sports physiotherapist. He is most widely known for his involvement in the Festina affair in the 1998 Tour de France ....

     in his book Massacre à la chaîne although he acknowledged the impossibility of proving the link between these early deaths and the drugs taken while racing.

1995

  • Bo Hamburger
    Bo Hamburger
    Bo Hamburger is a former Danish professional road racing cyclist. He retired in 2006.He was fired from Team CSC in 2001, after a positive EPO test. He was later cleared legally since the B test was below the limit, but still higher than normal. Since then, the Danish Cycle Union refused to let Bo...

     from Denmark admitted taking EPO from 1995-1997 in his 2007 autobiography. He had vociferously denied taking banned substances throughout his active career.

  • Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing...

     of Italy recorded a haematocrit level of 60.1% in the Milan-Turin race in October, about twenty percent higher than his natural level.

1996

  • Rolf Aldag
    Rolf Aldag
    Rolf Aldag is a former professional road bicycle racer who rode for Team Telekom from 1993 to 2005. He has raced in 10 Tour de France, 1 Giro d'Italia and 5 Vuelta a España...

     of Germany admitted having used Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     (EPO) in preparation for the 1996 Tour de France
    1996 Tour de France
    The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....

     on 24 May 2007. In the press conference with Erik Zabel they said that he experimented with EPO.

  • Udo Bölts
    Udo Bölts
    Udo Bölts in Rodalben is a retired German racing cyclist, the brother of Hartmut Bölts.Bölts is one of the most successful German cyclists, and from the beginning of his career he distinguished himself as a coureageous rider who liked to get into breakaways...

     of Germany confessed publicly on 23 May 2007 to having used EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     and growth hormones in preparation for the Tour de France in 1996 when he was with Team T-Mobile, and continued in 1997. Consequentially Bölts resigned as the sports director of Team Gerolsteiner
    Team Gerolsteiner
    Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized....

     on 24 May 2007

  • Bert Dietz of Germany confessed publicly on 23 May 2007 to having used EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in preparation for the Tour de France in 1996 when he was with Team T-Mobile, and continued in 1997.

  • Christian Henn
    Christian Henn
    Christian Henn is a retired road racing cyclist from Germany, who won the bronze medal for West Germany in the men's individual road race at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea...

     of Germany used banned substances (including EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    ) while riding for the T-Mobile team in the mid 1990s. He admitted this in May 2007.

  • Brian Holm
    Brian Holm
    Brian Holm Sørensen is a retired Danish professional rider in road bicycle racing from 1986 to 1998, and rode for Team Telekom from 1993 to 1997, and was part of the team that brought his fellow Dane Bjarne Riis to victory in the 1996 Tour de France...

     of Denmark admitted doping during the 1990s in his 2002 autobiography. This did not cost him his job as manager for the Danish national team, despite some concern about him being a role model for the young riders. In May 2007 he admitted having used erythropoietin (epo) on two occasions in 1996 at Team Telekom.

  • Levi Leipheimer
    Levi Leipheimer
    Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

     of the United States used a banned substance as an amateur during the 1996 U.S. National Criterium Championships, when he lapped the field. It was later reported by VeloNews that Leipheimer tested positive for a banned substance after the Championship, and a disciplinary panel recommended that he return his title. The Leipheimer family confirmed the violation, claiming that Levi had innocently used the allergy medicine Claritin-D to relieve hayfever symptoms. The family claim that USA Cycling later relaxed its standards regarding the use of allergy medicines, however Ephedrine remains a banned substance. USA Cycling's official records name Matt Johnson as the 1996 event's champion.

  • Rita Razmaite of Lithuania tested positive for Bromantan. She was suspended, along with a Russian coach and a Belarussian doctor, by the International Olympic Committee.

  • Bjarne Riis
    Bjarne Riis
    Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...

     of Denmark won the 1996 Tour de France
    1996 Tour de France
    The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....

     under the effects of EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    , growth hormone
    Growth hormone
    Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...

     and cortisone
    Cortisone
    Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...

    . On 25 May 2007, he admitted "for a time doping
    Doping (sport)
    The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

     was a part of everyday life for me".

  • Filippo Simeoni
    Filippo Simeoni
    Filippo Simeoni is an Italian former racing cyclist and the 2008 Italian road race champion. His most important victories were the two stages he won in the Vuelta a España in 2001 and 2003, and the 2008 Italian National Road Race Championship.-Biography:He was born in Desio in the province of...

     of Italy admitted in 2002 that he was instructed by doctor Michele Ferrari
    Michele Ferrari
    Michele Ferrari is an Italian physician, cycling coach and author.-Biography:Ferrari was born in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, where he still lives...

     in 1996 and 1997 on how to use the EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     and Human Growth Hormone that were prescribed. He also testified in court that he had used doping
    Doping (sport)
    The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

     since 1993. Dr. Ferrari was also Lance Armstrong's doctor and this led to a public falling-out at the 2002 Tour de France. In 2001 and 2002 Simeoni was suspended for several months for doping use.

  • Erik Zabel
    Erik Zabel
    Erik Zabel is a former German professional road bicycle racer who last raced with Milram. With over 200 professional wins he is considered by some one of the greatest German cyclists and best cycling sprinters of history...

     of Germany, on 24 May 2007, admitted having used Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     (EPO) in preparation for the 1996 Tour de France
    1996 Tour de France
    The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....

    . In the press conference he said that he experimented with EPO for a week, but then stopped due to severe side effects. Zabel also publicly apologized for having lied about his use of EPO in the past.


The Telekom Affair – In May 2007, several former riders admitted to using banned substances (including EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

) while riding for the team in the mid 1990s, including Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel is a former German professional road bicycle racer who last raced with Milram. With over 200 professional wins he is considered by some one of the greatest German cyclists and best cycling sprinters of history...

, Rolf Aldag
Rolf Aldag
Rolf Aldag is a former professional road bicycle racer who rode for Team Telekom from 1993 to 2005. He has raced in 10 Tour de France, 1 Giro d'Italia and 5 Vuelta a España...

, Brian Holm
Brian Holm
Brian Holm Sørensen is a retired Danish professional rider in road bicycle racing from 1986 to 1998, and rode for Team Telekom from 1993 to 1997, and was part of the team that brought his fellow Dane Bjarne Riis to victory in the 1996 Tour de France...

, Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...

, Bert Dietz, Udo Bölts
Udo Bölts
Udo Bölts in Rodalben is a retired German racing cyclist, the brother of Hartmut Bölts.Bölts is one of the most successful German cyclists, and from the beginning of his career he distinguished himself as a coureageous rider who liked to get into breakaways...

 and Christian Henn
Christian Henn
Christian Henn is a retired road racing cyclist from Germany, who won the bronze medal for West Germany in the men's individual road race at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea...

 including the seasons in which Riis and Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...

 won the Tour de France. Team doctors Andreas Schmid and Lothar Heinrich also confessed to participating and administering banned substances. The latter was Team Telekom's sporting director until 3 May 2007, when he was suspended following allegations published in former team member Jef d'Hont's book.

On 25 May 2007, Riis issued a statement confessing to taking EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

, growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...

 and cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...

 for five years, from 1993 to 1998, including during his victory in the 1996 Tour de France
1996 Tour de France
The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....

. Earlier in the week, five of Riis' former teammates from Team Telekom confessed to having used banned substances during the 1990s when Riis won the Tour. Riis said that he bought and injected the EPO himself, and team coach Walter Godefroot
Walter Godefroot
Walter Godefroot is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer and former directeur sportif of , later known as T-Mobile Team, professional team....

 turned a blind eye to the drug use on the team. Riis removed from the official record books of Tour de France, but in July 2008 he is written back into the books along with additional notes about his use of doping.

1997

  • Djamolidine Abdoujaparov
    Djamolidine Abdoujaparov
    Djamolidine Abdoujaparov is a former professional road racing cyclist from Uzbekistan. Abdoujaparov was a sprinter, nicknamed "The Tashkent Terror" as he was so ferocious in the sprints...

     from Uzbekistan became the first rider to be disqualified from the 1997 Tour de France
    1997 Tour de France
    The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...

     for taking banned substances after testing positive for Bromantan and the bronchodilator, Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...

    . It was later revealed that he had tested positive for drugs after six races in 1997, including the Tour de France. He was subsequently banned for a year after the International Cycling Union (UCI) appealed against a six-month ban imposed by the Uzbekistan Cycling Federation, claiming it was too lenient.

  • Gilles Bouvard of France admitted on 28 July 1998 that he had doped when with his former team Festina.

  • Brian Dalgaard Jensen of Denmark confessed in a DR TV documentary in March 2003, to using EPO during his career, especially during his 1997 success in Belgium. In 2004 he was awarded an anti-doping prize for his openness.

  • Rune Jogert of Norway tested positive for Ephedrine during a stage race in Germany (the Berliner 4-Etappen-Fahrt). He was suspended for 2 months from 1 February 1998, fined 500 Swiss francs ($US345) and lost 15 UCI ranking points. Additionally the Norwegian Cycling Federation was fined 5,000 Swiss francs (about $US3,500) because it had not taken any action against Rune Jogert and not told the UCI.

  • Emmanuel Magnien of France admitted on 28 July 1998 that he had doped when with his former team Festina.

  • Michael Skelde from Denmark tested positive for testosterone.

1998

  • Laurent Brochard
    Laurent Brochard
    Laurent Brochard is a retired professional road racing cyclist from France. In 1997 he won a stage of the Tour de France and became world road champion in San Sebastián, Spain....

     of France was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 July he confessed to using performance enhancing drugs. On 15 December 1998 he was suspended by the French Cycling Federation for six months.

  • Francesco Casagrande
    Francesco Casagrande
    Francesco Casagrande is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist. Casagrande was a professional cyclist between 1992 and 2005.-Biography:He is a proven performer in the Grand Tours and the major one-day races...

     of Italy was caught in March 1998 with a positive testosterone finding. He was suspended for 6 months, later increased to 9 months, and sacked by Cofidis.

  • Laurent Dufaux
    Laurent Dufaux
    Laurent Dufaux was a professional road cyclist from 1991 - 2003.- Major results :1993199419951996-External links:**...

     of Switzerland was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 July he confessed to using performance enhancing drugs.

  • Pascal Hervé
    Pascal Hervé
    Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist. He was tested positive for EPO after the prologue in 2001 Giro d'Italia.- Major achievements :1994Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist...

     of France was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 25 October 2000 he admitted to doping during the 1998 Tour de France.

  • Luc Leblanc
    Luc Leblanc
    Luc Leblanc is a retired professional male cyclist from France. In 1994 he became World Road Champion.-Biography:...

     of France, the 1994 world champion, admitted to the court in the Festina trial he had used performance-enhancing erythropoetin (EPO) to prepare for the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta over the last six years (1992–1998). He took EPO in 1994 to compete in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia. "It is true, but I could have taken a lot more to win these races", said Leblanc. He also insisted that his Rainbow Jersey was not won on illegal substances.

  • Rodolfo Massi
    Rodolfo Massi
    Rodolfo Massi is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He won a stage in 1996 Giro d'Italia and 1998 Tour de France, but was expelled from the 1998 Tour de France after illegal doping was found in his hotel room...

     of Italy tested positive for Cortisone during the 1998 Tour de France and received a 6 month suspension from the Italian Cycling Federation. He was also fined around $US1800, thrown out of the Tour while wearing the Mountain's jersey and arrested by police. He was accused of being one of the drug dealers in the peloton.

  • Armin Meier of Switzerland was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 July he confessed to using performance enhancing drugs.

  • Christophe Moreau
    Christophe Moreau
    Christophe Moreau is a French former professional road racing cyclist. For many years Moreau was the primary French contender for the general classification in the Tour de France: he finished in the top 12 in the GC five times and finished the race as best Frenchman in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005...

     of team Festina was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 July he confessed to using EPO. Confessing alongside the other team members - except Richard Virenque
    Richard Virenque
    Richard VirenqueRichard Virenque's name is pronounced Ree-shah Vee-rahnk. Virenque considers himself a man of the South but pronounces his name in standard French. Confusion is caused by the southern habit of pronouncing "en" as "ang" or "eng", making it Vee-rank. But Virenque says Vee-rahnk or...

     - Moreau served a six-month suspension before returning to racing. On 15 December 1998 he was suspended by the French Cycling Federation for six months.

  • Per Pedersen
    Per Pedersen (cyclist)
    Per Pedersen is a retired road bicycle racer from Denmark, who was a professional rider from 1986 to 1993. He competed in four Tours de France .Today he runs a bicycle shop near Herning, Denmark....

     of Denmark who raced the Tour de France on four occasions and worked for Team CSC as a directeur sportif in 2001, confessed to taking substances that are now prohibited. "It concerned cortisone", he admitted in December 2006.

  • Didier Rous
    Didier Rous
    Didier Rous is a former professional road bicycle racer.He started his professional career with Gan in 1993 before leaving for Festina in 1997, the year in which he won a stage of the Tour de France...

     of France was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 15 December 1998, he was suspended by the French Cycling Federation for six months.

  • Richard Virenque
    Richard Virenque
    Richard VirenqueRichard Virenque's name is pronounced Ree-shah Vee-rahnk. Virenque considers himself a man of the South but pronounces his name in standard French. Confusion is caused by the southern habit of pronouncing "en" as "ang" or "eng", making it Vee-rank. But Virenque says Vee-rahnk or...

     of France was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 October 2000, he admitted to doping at the 1998 Tour de France but on 22 December 2000, he was cleared by the French court. On December 30, 2000 the Swiss cycling federation
    Swiss Cycling
    Swiss Cycling is the national governing body of cycle racing in Switzerland.The organisation is a member of the UCI and the UEC....

     gave him a nine-month ban and a 4,000 Swiss franc fine.

  • Alex Zülle
    Alex Zülle
    Alex Zülle is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer. During the 1990s he was one of the best cyclists in the world, winning the Vuelta a España twice and taking the second place in 1999 Tour de France. He was world time-trial champion in Lugano in 1996.-Early career:Zülle was born and...

     of Switzerland was ejected from the Tour de France on 17 July 1998 with the entire Festina team. On 24 July he confessed to using performance enhancing drugs. His hematacrit level was recorded as 52.3%, whereas the maximum allowed figure is 50%. He also stated in court that he has been employing EPO for four years, including during his time with ONCE.


The Festina Affair
Festina affair
The Festina Affair refers to the events that surrounded several doping scandals, doping investigations and confessions by riders to doping that occurred during and after the 1998 Tour de France. The affair began when a large haul of doping products was found in a car of the Festina cycling team...

is the events that surround several doping scandals
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

, doping investigations and confessions of riders to doping that occurred during and after the 1998 Tour de France
1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...

. The affair began when a large haul of doping products was found in a car of the Festina cycling team
Festina cycling team
Festina is a former professional cycling team that was active in the professional peloton from 1989 to 2001. The team was sponsored by the watch manufacturers Festina Lotus AV.-Beginnings:...

 just before the start of the race which led to an investigation, this was followed by the re-opening of a separate case into the TVM team
TVM (cycling team)
TVM was a Dutch road bicycle racing team. It folded in 2000, two years after suffering a doping scandal. Farm Frites continued as a sponsor in 2001 with the new team, .-Names:-Riders:...

 and a subsequent searching of many teams during the race. The affair highlighted systematic doping and suspicion of a widespread network of doping in many teams of the Tour de France and was characterised by the constant negative publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...

 of the case, police searches of hotels, a spate of confessions by retired and current riders to doping, the detainment and arrest of many team personnel, protests
Industrial action
Industrial action or job action refers collectively to any measure taken by trade unions or other organised labour meant to reduce productivity in a workplace. Quite often it is used and interpreted as a euphemism for strike, but the scope is much wider...

 by riders in the race as well as mass withdrawal of several teams from the race.

1999

  • Uwe Ampler
    Uwe Ampler
    Uwe Ampler is a retired track and road cyclist from East Germany, who represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the gold medal in the men's team time trial, alongside Jan Schur, Mario Kummer, and Maik Landsmann. His father, Klaus Ampler, was...

     tested positive for steroids and high testosterone level during the Sachsen Tour in August 1999. He admitted his error, blaming a cocktail of drugs taken during a bout of influenza.

  • Frankie Andreu
    Frankie Andreu
    Frankie Andreu is a former professional cyclist whose career highlights include riding as team captain of the U.S. Postal Service cycling team along with Lance Armstrong in 1998, 1999 and 2000.-Cycling career:...

     admitted in September 2006 that he had taken EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     to help prepare for the 1999 Tour de France
    1999 Tour de France
    The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...

    , when he was riding for the US Postal team.

  • Lance Armstrong
    Lance Armstrong
    Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...

     tested positive for corticoids during the 1999 Tour de France
    1999 Tour de France
    The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...

    . The small amounts of corticoids in a urine sample were explained by the prescription for skin cream (saddle sores / boil / allergy) that he subsequently presented to the UCI, thus he was cleared of any offence.

  • Ludo Dierckxsens
    Ludo Dierckxsens
    Ludo Dierckxens is a former Belgian racing cyclist. He is best known for winning the 11th stage of the 1999 Tour de France, while competing for .-1999 Tour de France:...

     was removed from the Tour de France by his Lampre team after winning the 11th stage. At the post race drugs test he told the race doctor about his use of the corticoid Synacthene (Tetracosactide)
    Tetracosactide
    Tetracosactide is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring adrenocorticotrophic hormone .-Pharmacology:...

     under prescription to treat a knee injury from the previous month.

  • Claus Michael Møller
    Claus Michael Møller
    Claus Michael Møller is a Danish former professional cyclist. He turned professional in 1995 with the Castellblanch team before moving to Milaneza MSS in 2000. He won the overall classification of the Volta a Portugal in 2002, and was a stage winner in the 2001 Vuelta a España...

     of the Dutch TVM team tested positive for banned substances and received a 2 year ban

  • Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing...

    , winner of the 1998 Giro d'Italia
    1998 Giro d'Italia
    The 1998 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 81st running of the race, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1998. It covered , in 22 stages, and it was won by Marco Pantani....

     and the Tour de France
    1998 Tour de France
    The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...

    , faced an automatic two-week suspension while leading the 1999 Giro d'Italia
    1999 Giro d'Italia
    The 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti....

     for a suspiciously high red blood cell count which suggested that the rider had taken the banned substance EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    . He died of a cocaine overdose in 2004.

  • Laurent Roux
    Laurent Roux
    Laurent Roux is a French former road bicycle racer. In 1999, he was found guilty of using amphetamines and was suspended for six months. In 2002, he was tested non-negative for amphetamines after an out of competition control...

     is a French
    French people
    The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...

     former road bicycle racer. In 1999, he was found guilty of using amphetamines and was suspended for six months. In 2002, he was tested non-negative for amphetamines after an out of competition control. In 2006 he also confessed at a doping trial in Bordeaux that he used EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    , human growth hormone, cortisone
    Cortisone
    Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...

     and testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

    .


1999 Tour de France
1999 Tour de France
The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...

- In 2005 the French sports daily L'Équipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...

 accused Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...

 of using the performance-enhancing drug EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

 during 1999 Tour de France
1999 Tour de France
The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...

. For years, it had been impossible to detect the drug, called erythropoietin, until UCI began using a urine test for EPO in 2001. According to the newspaper, tests on 1999 urine samples were done to help scientists improve their detection methods. The newspaper said 12 samples had revealed EPO use, including six from Armstrong.
In 2006 a UCI appointed independent lawyer, Emile Vrijman, released a report in 2006 claiming that Lance Armstrong should be cleared of any suspicion surrounding the retrospective testing of the 1999 Tour de France. Vrijman denounced the manner in which the doping laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry carried out its research, claiming that there were too many procedural and chain of custody gaps. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rejected it, calling it defamatory to WADA and its officers and employees, as well as the accredited laboratory involved.

In 2005, French daily 'Le Journal du Dimanche' reported that Spanish rider Manuel Beltrán
Manuel Beltrán
Manuel Beltrán Martinez is a professional road bicycle racer from Spain. Beltrán won his first professional race at the 1997 Giro d'Italia, winning stage 19. His finishes in the Tour de France are somewhat misleading as he was a lieutenant for his team leader...

, Danish Bo Hamburger
Bo Hamburger
Bo Hamburger is a former Danish professional road racing cyclist. He retired in 2006.He was fired from Team CSC in 2001, after a positive EPO test. He was later cleared legally since the B test was below the limit, but still higher than normal. Since then, the Danish Cycle Union refused to let Bo...

 and Colombian Joaquim Castelblanco were suspected of being among those whose frozen urine samples reportedly tested positive.

2000

  • Eugeni Berzin
    Eugeni Berzin
    Evgeni Berzin is a Russian cyclist whose best year was 1994, when he won the Giro d'Italia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Only 24 at the time, Berzin was then tipped as being a future megastar in cycling, but he was never quite able to live up to the results of 1994. In 1995, he was second at the Giro...

     was prevented from starting the 2000 Giro d'Italia
    2000 Giro d'Italia
    The 2000 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 83rd running of the race, was held from 13 May to 4 June 2000. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages, for a total of 3,676 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.684 km/h...

     because of Haematocrit level (due to the use of EPO) above 50%

  • Neil Campbell tested positive at a World Cup track meeting in Turin on 13 July and at the British Championships on 29 July. Both samples showed higher concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) than permitted.

  • Jan Hruška
    Jan Hruška
    Jan Hruška is a former professional road bicycle racer from the Czech Republic, who turned professional in 1996. Hruska entered the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was removed after testing for a doping product.-Teams:...

     from the Czech Republic was thrown out of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games after testing positive for an unspecified banned substance.

  • Emmanuel Magnien of France was banned for three months by the International Cycling Union (UCI) after testing positive for corticoids during Tour de France.

  • Tammy Thomas, US track cyclist, tested positive for testosterone at the 2000 US Olympic trials, and in 2001 tested positive for a previously unseen steroid Norbolethone
    Norbolethone
    Norbolethone is an anabolic steroid. It was first developed in 1966 by Wyeth Laboratories, and tested for use as an agent to encourage weight gain and for the treatment of short stature, but was never marketed commercially because of fears that it might be toxic...

    . She received a lifetime ban from the sport.

2001

  • Niklas Axelsson
    Niklas Axelsson
    Niklas Axelsson is a Swedish professional road racing cyclist. Axelsson's finished sixth during the 1999 Giro d'Italia and third in the 2000 edition of Giro di Lombardia....

     tested positive for EPO in the 2001 UCI Road World Championships
    2001 UCI Road World Championships
    The 2001 UCI Road World Championships took place in Lisbon, Portugal, between October 9 and October 14, 2001. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women, men under 23, junior men and junior women.- Events summary :- External links :...

     in Lisbon
    Lisbon
    Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...

     and later admitted his guilt. He was suspended for four years by the Swedish Cycling Federation but made an early comeback in 2004.

  • Riccardo Forconi tested positive for blood doping/EPO use prior to the Giro d'Italia.

  • Dario Frigo
    Dario Frigo
    Dario Frigo is a former professional road bicycle racer. Frigo gained notoriety in the 2005 Tour de France when, lying 52nd overall racing for Fassa Bortolo, he was arrested before stage 11 after French police found ten doses of EPO in his wife's car...

     was expelled from the Giro d'Italia after police discovered banned substances in his hotel room. In 2005 he was arrested and banned from the Tour de France after police found 10 doses of erythropoietin (EPO) in his wife's car.

  • Marcin Gebk of Poland was excluded from the 2001 Peace Race after failing a hematocrit test prior to the event. He was one of three riders for the Polish CCC Mat team who received a two week ban.

  • Bjoern Glasner of Germany and Team Cologne was excluded from the 2001 Peace Race after failing a hematocrit test prior to the event. He received a two week ban.

  • Bo Hamburger
    Bo Hamburger
    Bo Hamburger is a former Danish professional road racing cyclist. He retired in 2006.He was fired from Team CSC in 2001, after a positive EPO test. He was later cleared legally since the B test was below the limit, but still higher than normal. Since then, the Danish Cycle Union refused to let Bo...

     becomes the first rider to test positive for EPO under a new system introduced by the UCI in 2001. Hamburger was later acquitted by the Danish Sports Federation after irregularities in the handling of Hamburger's B sample analysis. Hamburger denied ever taking any banned substances, but in 2007 he published a book and revealed that he took EPO from 1995 to 1997.

  • Pascal Hervé
    Pascal Hervé
    Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist. He was tested positive for EPO after the prologue in 2001 Giro d'Italia.- Major achievements :1994Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist...

     tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     after the prologue in 2001 Giro d'Italia
    2001 Giro d'Italia
    The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...

    .

  • Roland Meier from Switzerland tested positive for EPO at the end of la Flèche Wallonne on April 18. The Swiss Cycling Federation (SRB) stated that the B sample 'counter-evaulation' was carried out by the IUML (University Institute of Forensic medicine) in Lausanne and it confirmed the first analysis. He was suspended for 8 months by the SRB.

  • Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani
    Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing...

     was banned for six months after an insulin
    Insulin
    Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....

     syringe was found in his room at the Giro d'Italia. On appeal the ban was lifted.

  • Piotr Przydzial of Poland was excluded from the 2001 Peace Race after failing a hematocrit test prior to the event. He was one of three riders for the Polish CCC Mat team who received a two week ban.

  • Ondřej Sosenka
    Ondrej Sosenka
    Ondřej Sosenka is a Czech professional cyclist and rides for the UCI Professional Continental team PSK Whirlpool-Author. He won the Peace Race in 2002. He broke the nine-year old UCI hour record on July 19, 2005 in Moscow, Russia, riding in one hour.Sosenka was known as one of the largest...

     of the Czech Republic
    Czech Republic
    The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

     was excluded from the 2001 Peace Race after failing a hematocrit test prior to the event. He was one of three riders for the Polish CCC Mat team who received a two week ban.

  • Tammy Thomas, US track cyclist, tested positive for a previously unseen steroid Norbolethone
    Norbolethone
    Norbolethone is an anabolic steroid. It was first developed in 1966 by Wyeth Laboratories, and tested for use as an agent to encourage weight gain and for the treatment of short stature, but was never marketed commercially because of fears that it might be toxic...

    . She received a lifetime ban from the sport.


2001 Giro d'Italia
2001 Giro d'Italia
The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...

- The Giro was overshadowed by a series of scandals related to doping. Police raided the hotels of several teams during the race, uncovering a variety of banned substances. Italian Dario Frigo
Dario Frigo
Dario Frigo is a former professional road bicycle racer. Frigo gained notoriety in the 2005 Tour de France when, lying 52nd overall racing for Fassa Bortolo, he was arrested before stage 11 after French police found ten doses of EPO in his wife's car...

, who was fighting for the race lead at the time, was expelled from the race as a result. The week prior to the raid saw Pascal Hervé
Pascal Hervé
Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist. He was tested positive for EPO after the prologue in 2001 Giro d'Italia.- Major achievements :1994Pascal Hervé is a former French road racing cyclist...

 and Riccardo Forconi expelled from the race after testing positive for EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

. Italian police carried out anti-drugs raids on a number of hotels in the town of San Remo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...

 where the participants of the race were staying. About 200 officers were involved in the raid. Police officers search the rooms of riders from all 20 teams, confiscating medicines. The organizers decided to cancel the 18th stage after second-placed Dario Frigo
Dario Frigo
Dario Frigo is a former professional road bicycle racer. Frigo gained notoriety in the 2005 Tour de France when, lying 52nd overall racing for Fassa Bortolo, he was arrested before stage 11 after French police found ten doses of EPO in his wife's car...

 was sacked by Fassa Bortolo team after illegal drugs were found in his room. Frigo later admitted carrying them as security in case he needed a boost during the final stages of the race. Italian Marco Pantani
Marco Pantani
Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing...

 was banned for six months after an insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....

 syringe was found in his room. On appeal the ban was lifted.

2002

  • Nicola Chesini was detained by Italian police as part of an investigation into the supply of performance-enhancing drugs during the 2002 Giro d'Italia
    2002 Giro d'Italia
    The 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo...

    . Chesini was taken from his hotel near Cuneo
    Cuneo
    Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area...

     after the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia.

  • Stefano Garzelli
    Stefano Garzelli
    Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...

    , the 2000 Giro d'Italia
    2000 Giro d'Italia
    The 2000 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 83rd running of the race, was held from 13 May to 4 June 2000. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages, for a total of 3,676 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.684 km/h...

     winner, tested positive for the banned diuretic and masking agent probenecid
    Probenecid
    Probenecid is a uricosuric drug that increases uric acid excretion in the urine. It is primarily used in treating gout and hyperuricemia.Probenecid was developed as an alternative to caronamide...

    , and was expelled from the Giro d'Italia. He was given a nine-month ban.

  • Jef D'hont was a masseur to professional cycling teams. In 1998, he was involved in a major doping scandal during the Tour de France, namely the Festina affair. For his involvement in doping in the Française des Jeux team, he got a 9-month prison term on probation in December 2000. In April 2007, he exposed the doping practices of the Team Telekom in the 1990s, and admitted his own use of amphetamines in 1963.

  • David McCann
    David McCann
    David McCann is an Irish professional road bicycle racer. He used to cycle for the Taiwan-based UCI Continental team Giant Asia Racing.McCann was the Irish national road race champion in 2000, 2001 and 2006...

    , from Northern Ireland, tested positive for the Norandrosterone in 2002 during the Tour of Austria, which returned a reading 3 nanograms above the permitted blood concentration of the substance. Laboratory tests showed the presence of a legal glutamine supplement he was using contained norandrosterone not listed on the label. This evidence led to him being given the minimum allowed six month suspension and fined 2000 Swiss Francs.

  • In 2002, Gianpaolo Mondini
    Gianpaolo Mondini
    Gianpaolo Mondini is an Italian former road bicycle racer. He won the 18th stage in the 1999 Tour de France and the 2003 Italian National Time Trial Championship. In 2002 Mondoni was sacked from US Postal after police found EPO and growth hormones in his hotel room during 2001 Giro d'Italia...

     was sacked from US Postal after it was revealed that police found EPO and growth hormones in his hotel room during the 2001 Giro d'Italia
    2001 Giro d'Italia
    The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...

    . He admitted using illegal substances. The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) demanded suspension of up to four and a half years for possession and use of the drug EPO and possession of insulin.

  • Lars Brian Nielsen tested positive for high levels of caffeine and was removed from the Danish National Team for the World Championships in Ballerup in September. It was the second time Nielsen has been caught relating to doping. In 1997, he was found to have taken nandrolone and was suspended for two years.

  • Kirk O'Bee
    Kirk O'Bee
    Kirk O'Bee is a former professional road racing cyclist from the United States. He won two national championships – in 1997 the USPRO pursuit championship, and in 2001 the USPRO criterium championship....

     of Ada, Michigan tested positive for an elevated testosterone-epitestosterone ratio at the 2001 USPRO Championships in Philadelphia on 10 June 2001 and received a 1 year suspension. O'Bee declared that his positive drug test "resulted from a special training regimen recommended by his coach, which involved dietary supplements and exercise."

  • Juan Pineda of the USA tested positive for 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone at the First Union Invitational in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on 4 June 2002. He received a 2 year suspension on 25 September 2002 from the USADA.

  • Piotr Przydzial from Poland (CCC-Polsat) tested "non-negative" for EPO, at the 55th Peace Race/Course de la Paix in the Czech Republic. He was tested after the fourth stage that finished in Chemnitz on 13 May 2002. Both Przydzial's A and B samples showed signs of EPO and he faced a two year ban. Prior to the start of the 2001 Peace Race, Przydzial and Sosenka failed a hematocrit test (above 50%) and were not allowed to start.

  • Raimondas Rumsas
    Raimondas Rumšas
    -External links:...

     was given a four-month suspended prison sentence in January 2006 by the Bonneville
    Bonneville, Haute-Savoie
    Bonneville is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Bonneville is on the A40 autoroute, roughly halfway between Geneva and Chamonix...

     court for the importation of prohibited doping substances during the 2002 Tour de France where he finished third. His wife Edita was given the same sentence with a 3,000 euros fine on identical charges, while Polish doctor Krzysztof Ficek was handed a 12-month suspended sentence for prescribing the drugs. Edita Rumsas was arrested and jailed for 3 months after French police discovered a cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs
    Doping (sport)
    The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

     including growth hormone
    Growth hormone
    Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...

     and EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in her car. She had claimed that the drugs were for her mother-in-law.

  • Stefan Rütimann of Switzerland was given a 4-year ban by the Swiss Olympic Committee (COS) after testing positive for testosterone on May 5 during the Tour de Romandie. Rütimann declined to have his B test analysed, and was given a heavy suspension as he had also tested positive for banned substances in May 2001, when he was suspended for seven months.

  • Roberto Sgambelluri was expelled from the Giro d'Italia after becoming the first professional cyclist to be caught using NESP, a stronger and longer lasting form of EPO. However, NESP is not produced naturally by the body, and is therefore easy to detect by doping tests as it stays in the body for a long time.

  • Gilberto Simoni
    Gilberto Simoni
    Gilberto Simoni is an Italian ex-professional road bicycle racer, most recently for . Simoni is twice winner of the Giro d'Italia cycling race...

    , the 2001 Giro d'Italia
    2001 Giro d'Italia
    The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...

     winner, tested positive for cocaine and was withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia, but was later cleared by the Italian Cycling Federation.

  • Frank Vandenbroucke
    Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)
    Frank Vandenbroucke , was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist. He was the great hope of Belgian cycling in the 1990s but a remarkable talent which appeared in his adolescence in athletics and then in cycle racing dissipated in a succession of drugs problems, rows with teams, suicide...

     was arrested after the Belgium state highway patrol intercepted Bernard Sainz for travelling in excess of the speed limit and found a large quantity of amphetamines and syringes in the car. Sainz, known in the cycling world as Doctor Mabuse, said he was leaving Frank Vandenbroucke's home, which lead to the police searching the cyclist's residence, where they found EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    , morphine
    Morphine
    Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...

     and clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...

    . On 21 March Vandenbroucke was handed a six month ban and a 10,000 Swiss francs fine by the Belgian federation.

  • Faat Zakirov was expelled from the Giro d'Italia after becoming the first professional cyclist to be caught using NESP, a stronger and longer lasting form of EPO. However, NESP is not produced naturally by the body, and is therefore easy to detect by doping tests as it stays in the body for a long time. He received a one-year ban plus a one-year suspended ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on 17 April 2003.

2003

  • Mario De Clercq
    Mario De Clercq
    Mario De Clercq is a former racing cyclist. He specialized in cyclo-cross racing but also rode on the road and circuit races during his career, he raced as a professional between 1991 and 2004...

     of Belgium was implicated in a doping affair involving both trafficking and taking banned performance-enhancing drugs, human growth hormone and Aranesp, a genetically engineered recombinant EPO. The ring included six riders plus four others including the chief defendant, Belgian veterinarian Jose Landuyt. De Clercq used human growth hormone and Aranesp, a synthetic drug which increases red blood cell levels, which Museeuw obtained from Landuyt. On 24 January 2007, Museeuw confessed to these charges. The court proceedings were adjourned until 23 September 2008, pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the point of law.

  • Igor González de Galdeano
    Igor González de Galdeano
    Igor González de Galdeano Aranzabal is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer and current team manager of UCI ProTeam...

     of Spain missed the Tour de France because of a six-month doping ban imposed on him by France's Council for Prevention and Fight against Doping (CPLD) after testing positive for Salbutamol
    Salbutamol
    Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....

     during the 2002 Tour de France, as well after the final stage of the 2002 Midi Libre.BBC Sport, Cycling News, 29 June 2003, Gonzalez injured The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     did not consider the Tour de France positive as a doping offense, and began a face-off with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which insisted the case was indeed one of doping. The UCI declared that there was no limit placed on the amount salbuamol used under prescription.

  • Philippe Gaumont
    Philippe Gaumont
    Philippe Gaumont is a former French professional road racing cyclist. He is notorious for having confessed to extensive doping and explaining a lot of the tricks of the trade.-Racing results:...

     of France admitted during police interrogation to an ongoing pattern of EPO use that continued into the 2003 Tour de France This was the end of a career in which in 1996 he tested positive for nandrolone
    Nandrolone
    Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...

     in two races. In 1998 he tested positive twice for the nandrolone drug, but the case was dismissed. In 1999, a blood test conducted in the "Docteur Mabuse" justice case showed he was positive for amphetamine
    Amphetamine
    Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...

    s. In 2005 he wrote a book, Prisonnier du dopage ("Prisoner of doping") describing doping methods, masking methods and financial pressures.

  • Geneviève Jeanson
    Geneviève Jeanson
    Geneviève Jeanson is a former professional bicycle racer from Quebec, Canada. She won the world junior road and time trial championships in 1999 and the Tour de Snowy in 2000. Later that year she won La Flèche Wallonne World Cup race. She joined the Canadian Olympic team that year...

     of Canada recorded a hematocrit level in excess of the allowable limit while with the Canadian National Team preparing for the World Championships in Hamilton, Ontario, in late 2003. She was required to withdraw from competition for two weeks. She explained the finding by reference to an oxygen tent which she used as part of her conditioning and training program. After years of denial, in an investigative documentary broadcast on Radio-Canada
    Télévision de Radio-Canada
    Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...

     (the French-language CBC
    Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
    The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...

    ) on 20 September 2007, Jeanson acknowledged having taken EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     more or less continuously since age 16 (circa 1998).

  • Jesús Manzano
    Jesús Manzano
    Jesús María Manzano Ruano is a former Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He is famous as the whistleblower of systematic doping within his cycling team and his statements led the Guardia Civil to conduct the Operación Puerto investigation around the sport doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.-Cycling...

     of Spain admitted doping during the 2003 season. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated that he was "Acquitted for legal reasons." He is famous as the whistleblower of systematic doping in Spanish cycling and his statements led the Guardia Civil to conduct the Operación Puerto investigation around the sport doctor Eufemiano Fuentes
    Eufemiano Fuentes
    Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes is a Spanish sports doctor best known for being implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case.Fuentes was once an athlete. He then became the team doctor of Team ONCE, Amaya and the Kelme. The former Kelme rider Jesús Manzano accused Fuentes of being involved with doping....

    .

  • Johan Museeuw
    Johan Museeuw
    Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....

     of Belgium was implicated in a doping affair accusing him of both trafficking and taking banned performance-enhancing drugs. The ring included six riders (Mario De Clercq
    Mario De Clercq
    Mario De Clercq is a former racing cyclist. He specialized in cyclo-cross racing but also rode on the road and circuit races during his career, he raced as a professional between 1991 and 2004...

    , Jo Planckaert
    Jo Planckaert
    Jo Planckaert is a former Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He is the son of former professional road bicycle racer Willy Planckaert, brother of famous road bicycle racers Eddy and Walter Planckaert.- Major victories :...

     and Chris Peers) plus four others including the chief defendant, Belgian veterinarian Jose Landuyt. Museeuw used human growth hormone which he obtained from Landuyt. The police recorded phone calls where Museeuw spoke of wasps (the Dutch word wesp rhymes with aranesp), a codeword for Aranesp, a synthetic drug which increases red blood cell levels. On 24 January 2007, Museeuw confessed to these charges. The court proceedings were adjourned until 23 September 2008, pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the point of law.

  • Scott Moninger
    Scott Moninger
    Scott Moninger is an American professional road racing cyclist. He currently lives in Boulder, Colorado and retired from racing in 2007 after competing with the BMC Cycling Team. Scott has won nearly every road race in North America with 275 career victories, the most by any American rider...

     (USA) was suspended for one year due to contaminated supplements which contained the banned substance - 19-norandrosterone. These supplements were bought off the shelf of the local Boulder, Colorado supplement store. It was later proven by lab results from the same batch of supplements that the banned substance was not labeled on the product container. Although Moninger was suspended, he is considered to be a clean rider by his peers.

  • Amber Neben
    Amber Neben
    Amber Neben is an American racing cyclist who won the UCI world time trial championship in 2008 and the U.S. national road race championship in 2003. She is the only active American female cyclist to win multiple UCI category 1 stage races, having won the Gracia Tour in 2002, theTour du Montreal...

     (USA) tested positive for the banned substance 19-norandrosterone after the Montreal World Cup race. Neben chose to appeal the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and, in the meantime, accepted a provisional suspension which began in mid-July 2003. She claimed that it was the result of taking supplements which were contaminated with the banned substance. A formal hearing of the North American CAS Panel reported in October 2003, that a doping violation had occurred, but further stated that it was not an intentional doping violation. She was suspended for 6 months from any race activity dating back to the beginning of her voluntary withdrawal. In December 2007 Neben filed a lawsuit in a California district court against Hammer Nutrition, maker of Endurolytes, alleging that the product contained unlisted substances that caused all three plaintiffs to produce positive doping tests.

  • Chris Peers was implicated in a doping affair involving both trafficking and taking banned performance-enhancing drugs, human growth hormone and Aranesp, a synthetic drug which increases red blood cell levels. The ring included six riders plus four others including the chief defendant, Belgian veterinarian Jose Landuyt. On 24 January 2007, Johan Museeuw confessed to the charges. The court proceedings were adjourned until 23 September 2008, pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the point of law.

  • Jo Planckaert
    Jo Planckaert
    Jo Planckaert is a former Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He is the son of former professional road bicycle racer Willy Planckaert, brother of famous road bicycle racers Eddy and Walter Planckaert.- Major victories :...

     of Belgium was implicated in a doping affair involving both trafficking and taking banned performance-enhancing drugs, human growth hormone and Aranesp, a synthetic drug which increases red blood cell levels. The ring included six riders plus four others including the chief defendant, Belgian veterinarian Jose Landuyt. On 24 January 2007, Johan Museeuw confessed to the charges. The court proceedings were adjourned until 23 September 2008, pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the point of law.

  • Mark Roland of Australia was suspended for 2 years by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
    Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
    The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is a government department tasked to protect Australia's sporting integrity through the elimination of doping....

     (ASADA) in September 2008 for having used prohibited substances in 2003 and 2004, although he never tested positive. He was found to have used human growth hormone on two occasions in 2003 and the anabolic steroid
    Anabolic steroid
    Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...

     DHEA twice in 2003 and once in 2004. The World Anti-Doping Agency
    World Anti-Doping Agency
    The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...

     applied an eight year statute of limitations.

  • Raimondas Rumsas
    Raimondas Rumšas
    -External links:...

     of Lithuania received a one year ban after testing positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     during the 2003 Giro d'Italia
    2003 Giro d'Italia
    The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....

    , in which he finished sixth overall.

  • Adham Sbeih of the USA, a former U.S. national time trial champion, tested positive in August 2003 for EPO. He was the first U.S. cyclist to be found guilty of taking EPO and he received a two year ban.


Oil for Drugs
Oil for Drugs
The Oil for Drugs case is an Italian doping case against doctor Carlo Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He is accused of administering prohibited doping products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network...

was an Italian doping case against doctor Carlo Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He was accused of administering prohibited doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

 products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network across Italy.

2004

  • David Fuentes of California tested positive for an anabolic steroid at the Redlands Bicycle Classic
    Redlands Bicycle Classic
    The Redlands Bicycle Classic is a cycling stage race located in Redlands, California, USA that has been held since 1985. It consists of two road races, a Individual Time Trial and a Criterium....

    . He protested the USADA and controversially raced, and won, during this protest period. He was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to a two year suspension that included the year of protest in which he raced and won. He was never ordered to return any of his winnings.

  • Lizandro Ajcú of Guatemala tested positive for Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala
    Vuelta a Guatemala
    The Vuelta a Guatemala is a multi-day road bicycle racing stage race held annually and typically during late October and early November in several locations in Guatemala...

     in 2005.

  • Joey D'Antoni, received a 2 year suspension on 24 September from the United States Antidoping Agency. The track racer from Raleigh, North Carolina
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...

    , tested positive for recombinant human Erythropoietin (rHuEPO)

  • Christophe Brandt
    Christophe Brandt
    Christophe Brandt is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He started his career with Saeco, but after one year he transferred to Lotto and stayed there for the rest of his career. In the early 2000s he was a good rider in the big rounds, like a 14-th place in the giro and 33the in the...

     of Belgian tested positive for methadone
    Methadone
    Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...

     during the Tour de France. He believed the test was a result of a tainted nutritional supplement that he had taken to cure a liver problem. The chemist who had prepared Brandt's prescription confirmed he had been working with methadone on the same day that he had prepared Brandt's prescription. His Lotto team fired him, but after he was exonerated by the Belgian Cycling Federation he was rehired.

  • Dave Bruylandts
    Dave Bruylandts
    Dave Bruylandts is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. Bruylandts was tested positive for EPO use in 2004 and was banned for 18 months. Following his ban, Bruylandts briefly roder for Unibet.com in 2006 and for the UCI Continental team Klaipėda-Splendid Cyclingteam in 2007...

     of Belgium tested positive for EPO use in 2004 and was banned for 18 months.

  • David Calanche of Guatemala tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • María Luisa Calle
    María Luisa Calle
    María Luisa Calle Williams is a Colombian professional racing cyclist. She was born in Medellín.In the 2004 Summer Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the cycling women's points race, the first Colombian to win a medal in cycling. She was forced to return the medal after positive test result for...

     of Colombia lost her bronze medal after testing positive for heptaminol
    Heptaminol
    Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasoconstrictor . It is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension....

    . The Colombian Olympic Committee appealed the decision, and in November 2005 she got her medal back.

  • Oscar Camenzind
    Oscar Camenzind
    Oscar Camenzind is a former professional road racing cyclist from Switzerland. He is national road champion of 1997. In 1998 he won the World Road Championship and the Giro di Lombardia, in 2000 he won the Tour de Suisse and he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2001...

     of Switzerland tested positive on 22 July for the banned drug EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     and was barred from attending the Olympic games. Although he accepted full responsibility for the positive test, his cycling
    Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics
    Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics had 18 events in three disciplines:*Road cycling, held at the Athens historic centre and in Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre ....

     career became questionable after being fired by his Swiss professional cycling team Phonak
    Phonak
    Sonova – till 31 July 2007 Phonak – is a Swiss company that specializes in hearing and wireless systems. The Sonova Group consists of four divisions - Phonak Hearing Systems, Unitron Hearing, Phonak Communications and Advanced Bionics.On August 1, 2007 Phonak AG officially changed its name to...

    . Soon after this occurrence, he announced his retirement from professional cycling
    Cycling
    Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

    .

  • Stefano Casagranda and Martin Hvastija were asked to leave the 2004 Tour de France
    2004 Tour de France
    The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...

     after race organisers received a letter from Padova's financial brigade, saying the riders were under investigation in Italy on doping charges.

  • Yeisson Delgado of Venezuella tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • Carlos López González of Mexico tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • Abel Jocholá of Guatemala tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams throughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and . He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring...

     was not eligible to participate in the Tour de France as he was under investigation by Italian officials for doping. Di Luca was recorded in several phone conversations with Eddy Mazzoleni
    Eddy Mazzoleni
    Eddy Mazzoleni is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who most recently rode for UCI ProTour Astana Team....

     in which he allegedly talked about doping
    Doping (sport)
    The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

     products, the investigation led to Di Luca's non-participation in the 2004 Tour de France.

  • Tyler Hamilton
    Tyler Hamilton
    Tyler Hamilton is a former American professional road bicycle racer and former Olympic gold medalist. Hamilton became a professional cyclist in 1995, and during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tour de France was a teammate of Lance Armstrong who won those races.Hamilton appeared at the 2000 Summer...

     won the gold medal in the men's individual time trial
    Time trial
    In many racing sports an athlete will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. In cycling, for example, a time trial  can be a single track cycling event, or an individual or team time trial on the road, and either or both of the latter may form components of...

     at the 2004 Summer Olympics
    2004 Summer Olympics
    The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

     in Athens
    Athens
    Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

    . That medal was placed in doubt on 20 September 2004, after it was revealed that he had failed a test for blood doping
    Blood doping
    Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and...

     (receiving blood transfusions to boost performance) at the Olympics. Two days after the announcement of his positive test result at Athens, the IOC
    International Olympic Committee
    The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...

     announced that Hamilton would keep his gold medal because results could not be obtained from the second, backup sample. The Athens lab had frozen the backup sample, which made it impossible to repeat the blood doping test. Hamilton also tested positive for blood doping
    Blood doping
    Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and...

     at the 2004 Vuelta a España
    2004 Vuelta a España
    The 59th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 4 to September 26, 2004...

    , where he won April 8 stage. In April 2005 he was banned for 2 years for blood doping. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated that for Homologous Blood Transfusion he would be sanctioned to "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Jesus Manzano
    Jesús Manzano
    Jesús María Manzano Ruano is a former Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He is famous as the whistleblower of systematic doping within his cycling team and his statements led the Guardia Civil to conduct the Operación Puerto investigation around the sport doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.-Cycling...

     of Spain exposed doping practices in a series of articles in the Spanish newspaper Diario AS
    Diario AS
    Diario AS is a Spanish daily sports newspaper, concentrating particularly on football.It particularly covers news of the principal Madrid football teams, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, in which it competes directly with MARCA....

     in March 2004. This included his use of EPO, Cortisone, Testosterone, Human Growth Hormone, Nandrolone, Oxyglobin, and the extreme practices to administer them. The revelations were so strong that Spanish investigations were begun, and these in turn lead to Operación Puerto.

  • Filip Meirhaeghe
    Filip Meirhaeghe
    Filip Meirhaeghe is a Belgian racing cyclist. His primary focus was in mountain bike racing, however, he has also taken part in elite road, cyclo-cross and track cycling. He has won four Mountain Bike World Championships medals, one Olympic medal and a total of eleven mountain bike World Cup events...

     the Belgian Mountain biker, tested positive for EPO at an out of competition control on June 25, two days before round 5 of the mountain bike World Cup in Mont St Anne, Canada, which he won. The 33 year old World Champion told the Belga newsagency that he will stop competitive cycling immediately.

  • Noel Armando Vazquez Mendoza of Venezuella tested positive for Erythropoietin and Nicethamide in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004. In July 2005 he was sanctioned by the Federacion Venezolana De Ciclismo, involving a four year suspension from 10 November 2004 to 9 November 2008, disqualification of the race, and a fine of CHF 1,000.

  • David Millar
    David Millar
    David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...

     of Great Britain was preparing for competition in the 2004 Tour de France
    2004 Tour de France
    The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...

     and track events at the 2004 Summer Olympics
    2004 Summer Olympics
    The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

     when police searched his house in June 2004, finding used Epogen syringes. Millar confessed to the use of EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     on three occasions: in August 2001 before the Vuelta a España
    2001 Vuelta a España
    The 56th Vuelta a España , a long-distance stage race and one of the 3 Grand Tours, was held from September 8 to September 30, 2001...

    , in May 2003 before the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and in September 2003 before the World men's individual time trial championships
    2003 UCI Road World Championships
    The 2003 UCI Road World Championships took place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, between October 7 and October 12, 2003. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women, men under 23, junior men and junior women....

    . He was handed a two-year suspension.

  • Janet Puiggros Miranda of Spain became the second Spanish athlete to commit a doping offence at the Olympics after also testing positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     during a pre-Olympic test. Like Gonzalez, she was withdrawn from competing (in the Women's Cross-Country race). She also denied the administration of a "B Test", which is used to verify the first drug test.

  • Federico Muñoz
    Federico Muñoz
    Federico Muñoz Fernández is a retired male road racing cyclist from Colombia, who was a professional from 1988 to 2004.-Career:1993...

     of Colombia tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • José Reynaldo Murillo of Spain tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • Santiago Pérez
    Santiago Pérez (cyclist)
    Santiago Pérez Fernández is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for Barbot-Efapel....

     of Phonak team
    Phonak (cycling team)
    Phonak was a Swiss professional cycling team from 2000 until 2006. The team was one of 20 teams in the first UCI ProTour in 2005...

     tested positive for a blood transfusion on 5 October, just over a week after he finished second in the 2004 Vuelta a España
    2004 Vuelta a España
    The 59th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 4 to September 26, 2004...

    .

  • Nery Velásquez of Guatamalla tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.

  • Jeremy Yates
    Jeremy Yates
    Jeremy Yates is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist currently riding for Manisaspor Continental Cycling Team.-Career highlights:1999200020012002...

     of New Zealand who spent two years racing for Belgian teams, tested positive for high levels of testosterone after a race in Wanzele in March. The Belgian cycling federation banned him for two years plus a fine of $NZ900 plus costs.

2005

  • Erwin Bakker of the Netherlands tested positive for Testosterone at Mont Sainte-Anne, Canada, on 26 March 2005, and for EPO on 23 June 2005 at an out of competition control. He was disqualified and sacked by his team, Heijdens-Ten Tusscher. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated both "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years and life" respectively.

  • Roberto Ballestero of Costa Rica tested positive for Phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     on 23 December 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Marc Lotz of The Netherlands resigned at Quick·Step - Innergetic on 1 June when EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     was found in his house and he admitted using. The team accepted his resignation and he was suspended for two years in general and for four years for the UCI Pro-Tour. On October 3, 2008 the Belgium court gave him a 16,500 Euro fine for possession of EPO.

  • Ludovic Capelle
    Ludovic Capelle
    Ludovic Capelle is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist. He was professional from 1998 until 2005. In 2007 he also rode for the continental team Roubaix Lille Métropole and since 2008 he's riding in Latvian continental team Rietumu Banka - Riga. He started as a professional with Ville...

     tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     at a race on 7 June. He was initially suspended for 18 months by Belgian Cycling Federation but Capelle appealed his ban on a technicality. In the middle of December the Belgian Council of State overturned the suspension and Capelle was cleared on a procedural error of a testing officer.

  • Maurizio Carta of Poland tested positive for Clostebol
    Clostebol
    Clostebol , usually as the ester clostebol acetate, is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid. Clostebol is the 4-chloro derivative of the natural hormone testosterone....

     on 24 September 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Ferney Orlando Bello Clavijo of Colombia tested positive for Stanozolol on 9 August 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for life".

  • Barry Forde
    Barry Forde
    Barry Ricardo Forde is a Barbadian track cyclist. Forde was banned for two years and two months after testing positive for Testosterone on October 28, 2005.. Accessed June 16, 2009- Palmarès :20012003...

     of Barbados tested positive for Testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

     on 28 October 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years and 2 months".

  • Evgeni Petrov
    Evgeni Petrov
    Evgeni Petrov is a Russian professional road bicycle racer. He currently rides for UCI ProTeam . He won the 11th stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia, Lucera to L'Aquila...

     was ejected from the 2005 Tour de France on stage 10. Tests carried out in the morning found his haemetocrit to be over the legal 50% level. He was banned from cycling for two weeks 'for health reasons'.

  • Dario Frigo
    Dario Frigo
    Dario Frigo is a former professional road bicycle racer. Frigo gained notoriety in the 2005 Tour de France when, lying 52nd overall racing for Fassa Bortolo, he was arrested before stage 11 after French police found ten doses of EPO in his wife's car...

    , was ejected from the 2005 Tour de France before the start of stage 11. Police found ten doses of EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in his wife's car as part of a border-crossing search. The couple were arrested for carrying prohibited substances. In September 2008 the court in Albertville
    Albertville
    Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...

     gave him and his wife, Susanna, a six-month suspended prison sentence and an €8757 fine.

  • Fabrizio Guidi
    Fabrizio Guidi
    Fabrizio Guidi is an Italian former road bicycle racer. Guidi won over 40 races since he turned professional in 1995, including two stages in Giro d'Italia and three stages of 1998 Vuelta a España. He also won the Intergiro competition of Giro d'Italia in 1996, 1999 and 2000...

     tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     on 17 August. The test was taken at the HEW Cyclassics on 31 July. Guidi's B test came back negative for EPO and the team's temporary suspension against him was lifted.

  • Fredy Hamlet of France tested positive for Heptaminol
    Heptaminol
    Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasoconstrictor . It is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension....

     on 16 July 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 1 year".

  • Nelito Hereida of the Dominican Republic tested positive for EPO on 17 September 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for life".

  • Roberto Heras
    Roberto Heras
    Roberto Heras Hernández is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer who won the Vuelta a España a record-tying three times. He broke the record with a fourth win in 2005, but was disqualified for taking EPO. In June 2011, Heras successfully appealed the disqualification in the civil court...

    , the winner of an unprecedented fourth Vuelta a España
    Vuelta a España
    The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...

    , tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     prior to the penultimate stage of the 2005 Vuelta a España. He was stripped of his 2005 Vuelta win and the victory was given to Russian Denis Menchov
    Denis Menchov
    Denis Nikolayevich Menchov , born 25 January 1978 in Oryol, is a professional Russian road bicycle racer for . He is a general classification rider and a climber. In 2005 he won the Vuelta a España, which he won for a second time in 2007...

    . The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Danilo Hondo
    Danilo Hondo
    Danilo Hondo is a German professional road bicycle racer, for . He was banned from professional cycling and then later won his appeal to return to the sport....

     of Germany tested positive for the stimulant Carphedone at the Vuelta de Murcia and subsequently received a 2 year suspension.

  • Giorgio Landaeta of Venezuela tested positive for Norandrosterone and Noreticholanolone on 30 August 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Iñigo Landaluze
    Iñigo Landaluze
    Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga is a professional road bicycle racer, currently under suspension.Landaluze turned professional in 2001 with Euskaltel-Euskadi, his present team...

    , made his breakthrough by winning the 2005 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, but it was soon announced he had tested positive for abnormally high testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

     and was suspended from racing until his case was heard out. In 2006, however, he was cleared to return to racing after he showed that the lab conducting tests committed procedural errors. The UCI then failed to show that those errors did not affect the outcome of the tests. The CAS panel reviewing the case said that it was "probable" that Landaluze had committed a doping violation, but the UCI had failed to meet its burden of proof in the case. New revisions to the WADA Code would suggest that Landaluze would have lost his case under the new rules. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states 'Acquitted for legal reasons'

  • Jenaro Ramos Lozano of Spain tested positive for Stanozolol
    Stanozolol
    Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

     on 8 April 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Gabriel Pop of Romania "Failed to Comply" with test procedures on 22 April 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Jorge Coto Riviera of Costa Rica tested positive for testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

     on 23 December 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Sandro Rodriguez of Bolivia tested positive for Norandrosterone on 10 November 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "ineligibility for life".

  • Francisco Pérez Sanchez tested positive twice for EPO during the 2003 Tour de Romandie when he won two stages and took the overall lead in spectacular fashionrace. He was suspended for 18 months from 18 October 2003 to 17 April 2005.

  • Zinaida Stahurskaya
    Zinaida Stahurskaya
    Zinaida Vladimirovna Stahurskaya was a Belarusian racing cyclist who was the world champion in 2000. Stahurskaya was born in Vitebsk. She was banned in 2006 for two years for a drugs test that she failed in 2005. She had earlier been suspended for drugs offences in 2001 for four months and 2003...

    , the former world champion from Belarus tested positive at three European races in 2005, - once to anabolic steroid stanozolol and twice to hormone testosterone. In 2006 she was banned for 2 years. It was not her first positive test for doping substances, nor her first suspension: At the Giro d'Italia Femminile in 2001, she returned a positive test for a diuretic, and at the Circuito di Massarosa in 2003, for ephedrine. She was out of competition for four and two months respectively.

2006

  • Wilmer Bravo of Venezuela tested positive for Prednisolone
    Prednisolone
    Prednisolone is the active metabolite of prednisone, which is also used as a drug.-Uses:Prednisolone is a corticosteroid drug with predominant glucocorticoid and low mineralocorticoid activity, making it useful for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and auto-immune conditions such as...

     and Prednisone
    Prednisone
    Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...

     on 9 January 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 4 months".

  • Garcia Quesada Adolfo of Spain tested positive for Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

     (hCG) in competition on 19 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Stephen Alfred of the USA, tested positive for Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

     (hCG) in an 'out of season' test on 26 March, and an 'in competition' test on 10 June 2006. Further tests indicated that his testosterone imbalance resulted from the presence of exogenous testosterone. He was suspended for 8 years by the USADA. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 8 years."

  • Victor Hernandez Baeta of Spain tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in an 'out of competition' test on 4 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Ivan Basso
    Ivan Basso
    Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...

     was expelled from the Tour de France in the week prior to its commencement due to his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...

     On 30 April 2007 Team Discovery Channel announced that Basso would be released from his contract on Basso's request. While still claiming to never have actually engaged in blood doping, Basso admitted contacting Dr. Fuentes' clinic with the intention to engage in blood doping. On 15 June 2007, Basso received a two-year ban.

  • Pawal Bentkowski of Poland tested positive for Norandrosterone on 25 July 2006. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Jaime Bretti of Chile tested positive for Phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     in competition on 4 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Santos Gonzalez Capilla of Spain tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat various skin conditions and to relieve the discomfort of mouth sores. It is a more potent type of triamcinolone, being about 8 times as effective as prednisone.-Medical use:...

     on 4 March 2006. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification, warning and reprimand".

  • Jose Balague Carvajal of Chile tested positive for Ephedrine
    Ephedrine
    Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....

     'in competition' on 11 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Erick Castano of Ecuador tested positive for Metelonone on 14 May 2006. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Luis Coehlo of Portugal tested positive for Norandrosterone, Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...

    , and hCG
    Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

     in competition on 15 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and Ineligibility for 1 year".

  • Juan Cotumba of Bolivia tested positive for Benzoylecgonine
    Benzoylecgonine
    Benzoylecgonine is a topical analgesic and the main metabolite of cocaine.-History:Benzoylecgonine is used as the main pharmaceutical ingredient in the prescription drug Esterom, a topical solution used for the relief of muscle pain....

    , methylecgonine, and cocaine metabolites on 11 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Jhon Cunto of Peru tested positive for Norandrosterone in competition on November 9, 2006. he UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Kamil Dominian of Poland tested positive for Stanozolol on May 20, 2006. The 'Union Cycliste Internationale' (UCI) summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • David Garbelli of Italy tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat various skin conditions and to relieve the discomfort of mouth sores. It is a more potent type of triamcinolone, being about 8 times as effective as prednisone.-Medical use:...

     and salbutamol
    Salbutamol
    Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....

     on 9 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and warning".

  • Christoph Girschweiler of Switzerland tested positive for Salbutamol and salmeterol
    Salmeterol
    Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist drug that is currently prescribed for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is currently available as a dry powder inhaler that releases a powdered form of the drug...

     in competition on 21 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and warning".

  • Aitor González
    Aitor González
    Aitor González Jiménez is a former Spanish road bicycle racer who raced as a professional from 1998 to 2005. He turned professional in 1998 with Avianca-Telecom; his last was Euskaltel-Euskadi. He won the 2002 Vuelta a España with Kelme after attacking his teammate leading the race. He won and the...

    , the winner of the 2002 Vuelta a España
    2002 Vuelta a España
    The 57th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 7 to September 29, 2002...

    , tested positive twice in 2005, first during an out of competition test in August, and again during the 2005 Vuelta a España for a methyltestosterone
    Methyltestosterone
    Methyltestosterone is a 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid used to treat men with a testosterone deficiency. It is also used in women to treat breast cancer, breast pain, swelling due to pregnancy, and with the addition of estrogen it can treat symptoms of menopause...

     metabolite. González claimed that the positive test was the result of a contaminated dietary supplement called Animal Pack prescribed by a doctor. González was handed a two year ban and retired soon afterwards. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' listed 17 alpha methyl, 5 beta androstane, 3 alpha 17 beta dio and a 2 year banUCI list of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006'

  • Oscar Grau of Spain tested positive for Finasteride
    Finasteride
    Finasteride is a synthetic antiandrogen that inhibits type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone...

    . The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Jon Pena Hernaez of Spain tested positive for Phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     in competition on 1 August 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Christina Alcade Huertanos from Spain was disqualified for 2 years. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' listed Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide
    Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat various skin conditions and to relieve the discomfort of mouth sores. It is a more potent type of triamcinolone, being about 8 times as effective as prednisone.-Medical use:...

     and a 2 year ban

  • Jörg Jaksche
    Jörg Jaksche
    Jörg Jaksche is a German road bicycle racer.He has been cycling professionally since 1997, racing for the teams Polti , Team Telekom , ONCE , CSC , Liberty Seguros-Würth/Astana and Tinkoff Credit Systems in 2007.In 2004, he won the Tour Mediterranean and the Paris–Nice race.In the 2005 Tour de...

     was one of the 9 riders held out of the 2006 Tour de France
    2006 Tour de France
    The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....

     after being identified by investigators in the Operación Puerto investigation. On 30 June 2007 Jaksche admitted he was guilty of blood doping and that he was the Bella mentioned in the documents confiscated from Fuentes' clinic.

  • Valdimir Koev of Bulgaria tested positive for Stanozolol
    Stanozolol
    Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

     on 18 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Rafal Kumorowski of Poland tested positive for Cannabis in competition on 4 August 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and warning."

  • Floyd Landis
    Floyd Landis
    Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...

     was fired from the Phonak team
    Phonak (cycling team)
    Phonak was a Swiss professional cycling team from 2000 until 2006. The team was one of 20 teams in the first UCI ProTour in 2005...

     on 5 August 2006, after a test result indicated an abnormally high testosterone/epitestosterone ratio after stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France
    2006 Tour de France
    The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....

    . On 20 September 2007, he was stripped of his title as winner of the 2006 Tour and placed under a two year ban from professional racing, following an arbitration panel's 2 to 1 ruling. He appealed the result of the arbitration hearing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

    , which subsequently upheld the panel's ruling. He remained suspended until 30 January 2009.

  • Maxime Lefebvre of France 'Failed to Comply' with the 'in competition' testing on 29 December 2006 and 2 January 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for life".

  • Christian Luce of France. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' listed Testosterone and a 3 year ban

  • Joseph M. Papp
    Joseph M. Papp
    Joseph M. Papp is an American former professional road racing cyclist and U.S. National cycling team member. He holds dual Irish-USA citizenship...

     of the USA tested positive for metabolites of testosterone or its precursors (6?-OH-androstenedione 6?-OH-androsterone) on 7 May 2006, at the International 42nd Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. He received a 2 year suspension. When he testified for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) at the Floyd Landis trial he also stated that he had graduated to testosterone after starting on EPO (erythropoietin) in 2001.

  • Evandro Luis Portela of Brazil tested positive for Phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     and Stanozolol
    Stanozolol
    Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

     on 23 March 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for life".

  • Aitor Osa
    Aitor Osa
    Aitor Osa Eizaguirre is a Spanish former road bicycle racer. He is an older brother of Unai Osa. He was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case.-Palmarès:200020012002*...

     from Spain was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case. The Guardia Civil in Madrid
    Madrid
    Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...

     linked numbers used by Dr. Fuentes to identify blood sample bags to names; number 1 to Ullrich, number 2 to Basso, number 4 to Botero, number 5 to Sevilla, number 7 to Aitor's brother, Unai Osa, number 8 to Aitor Osa himself.

  • Unai Osa
    Unai Osa
    Unai Osa Eizaguirre is a Spanish former road bicycle racer. He is the younger brother of Aitor Osa. He was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case.-Palmarès:1999-External links:***...

     from Spain was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case. The Guardia Civil in Madrid
    Madrid
    Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...

     linked numbers used by Dr. Fuentes to identify blood sample bags to names; number 1 to Ullrich, number 2 to Basso, number 4 to Botero, number 5 to Sevilla, number 7 to Unai Osa himself, and number 8 to his brother Aitor Osa.

  • Cénéric Racault of France tested positive for Prednisolone
    Prednisolone
    Prednisolone is the active metabolite of prednisone, which is also used as a drug.-Uses:Prednisolone is a corticosteroid drug with predominant glucocorticoid and low mineralocorticoid activity, making it useful for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and auto-immune conditions such as...

     and Prednisone
    Prednisone
    Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...

    . IThe UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 18 months".

  • Ilaria Rinaldi of Italy tested positive for Testosterone in competition on 18 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Jose Antonio Pastor Roldan of Spain tested positive for Terbutaline
    Terbutaline
    Terbutaline is a β2-adrenergic receptor agonist.Terbutaline is currently on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited drugs for Olympic athletes, except when administered by inhalation and a Therapeutic Use Exemption has been obtained in advance.Terbutaline is currently used to delay...

     on 19 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated that he was sanctioned by 'disqualification and a warning'.

  • Alexandre Sabalin of Moldavia tested positive for Strychnine
    Strychnine
    Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...

     on 26 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated that he was sanctioned by 'disqualification and Ineligibility for 1 year'.

  • Michele Scarponi
    Michele Scarponi
    Michele Scarponi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .In 2006, Scarponi was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case...

     was implicated in the Operación Puerto case. On 8 May 2007, Scarponi confessed his role in the case. On 15 May, Scarponi was provisionally suspended.

  • Ger Soeperberg of the Netherlands tested positive for Salbutamol
    Salbutamol
    Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....

     on 2 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated that he was sanctioned by 'disqualification and warning'.

  • Alvaro Tardaguila
    Alvaro Tardáguila
    Alvaro Tardáguila Silva is a Uruguayan professional racing cyclist. Winner of the 2005 edition of his home tour, the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay, Tardáguila is the son of Walter Tardáguila, a 1972 Olympian and also winner of the 1972 edition of the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay...

     from Uraguay tested positive for r-EPO in February 2006, and received a 2 year ban.

  • Fernando Torres of Spain tested positive for Ephedrine
    Ephedrine
    Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....

     in competition on 8 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years - (under appeal by rider)."

  • Matteo Trentin of Italy tested positive for Salbutamol
    Salbutamol
    Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....

     'in competition' on 26 December 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Jan Ullrich
    Jan Ullrich
    Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...

     was expelled from the Tour de France in the week prior to its commencement due to his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...

    .

  • Sascha Urweider was suspended by Team Phonak after a positive A-test for testosterone. Urweider blamed a nutritional supplement he bought without team doctors advise.

  • Tristan Valentin
    Tristan Valentin
    Tristan Valentin is a French professional road bicycle racer. He tested positive for Heptaminol on 6 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 6 months".- Palmares :2005- External links :**...

     of France tested positive for Heptaminol
    Heptaminol
    Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasoconstrictor . It is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension....

     on 6 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 6 months".

  • Jordi Reira Valls of Spain tested positive for Stanozolol
    Stanozolol
    Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

     and hCG
    Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

     on 16 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".


2006 Tour de France
2006 Tour de France
The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....

was marred by doping scandals. Prior to the tour, numerous riders - including the two favourites Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...

 and Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...

 - were expelled from the Tour due to their link with the Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...

. After the end of the race, the apparent winner Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...

 was found to have failed a drug test after stage 17; Landis contested the result and demanded arbitration. On 20 September 2007 Landis was found guilty and suspended retroactive to 30 January 2007 and stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title making Óscar Pereiro the title holder.

Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...

(meaning Operation Mountain Pass) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 doping case against doctor Eufemiano Fuentes
Eufemiano Fuentes
Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes is a Spanish sports doctor best known for being implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case.Fuentes was once an athlete. He then became the team doctor of Team ONCE, Amaya and the Kelme. The former Kelme rider Jesús Manzano accused Fuentes of being involved with doping....

 and a number of accomplices, started in May 2006. He is accused of administering prohibited doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...

 products to 200 professional athletes, to enhance their performance. Tour de France's favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso were expelled from the Tour de France before the race started.

Positive doping tests

Date Cyclist Banned substance Reference
4 March hCG
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jun07/jun11news2
24 April Nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/may07/may30news
8 June Testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

http://www.velonews.com/article/12808
19 July Testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul25news5
21 July Homologous transfusion
Blood doping
Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and...

http://www.velonews.com/article/12910
24 July EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jul07/jul31news
1 August Homologous transfusion
Blood doping
Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and...

http://www.velonews.com/article/13063
24 December EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://www.tour09.nl/nederlanders/672/dekker-betrapt-op-gebruik-epo.html

Doping cases

  • Ivan Basso
    Ivan Basso
    Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...

     of Italy was suspended by Discovery Channel
    Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
    Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team was a United States-based professional road bicycle racing team. It was the continuation of the 2004 U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team. Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, was its leader until July 2005...

     on 24 April when the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) reopened his case on behalf of his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto doping case
    Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...

    . On 30 April 2007 Team Discovery Channel announced that Basso would be released from his contract on Basso's request. While still claiming to never have actually engaged in blood doping, Basso admitted contacting Dr. Fuentes' clinic with the intention to engage in blood doping. On 15 June 2007, Basso received a two-year ban. The time he had already spent under team suspension whilst riding for CSC and temporary suspension since leaving Discovery were taken into consideration which meant his ban would end on 24 October 2008.

  • Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently serving a suspension. He rose to international prominence when he won stage 6 of the 2005 Tour de France, when riding for ....

     (Leonardo) of Italy tested positive for Sibutramine
    Sibutramine
    Sibutramine is an oral anorexiant. Until 2010 it was marketed and prescribed as an adjunct in the treatment of exogenous obesity along with diet and exercise...

     on 15 August and was fired from T-Mobile in September 2007. He purchased it over the counter at a pharmacy in Italy to help keep his weight under control and said he had been taking it for four years, unaware it had been added to the list of banned substances. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 1 year."

  • Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams throughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and . He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring...

     of Italy was revealed to have had unspecified low hormone levels in urine tests during the 2007 Giro d'Italia
    2007 Giro d'Italia
    The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...

    . Italian authorities investigated whether this was a natural consequence of racing at a high level for three weeks, or some kind of masking agent. On 28 September, Di Luca withdrew from the UCI Road World Championships calling his treatment "a scandal" after he had been accused of doping allegations. Di Luca was leading the 2007 UCI ProTour
    2007 UCI ProTour
    The 2007 UCI ProTour is the third year of the UCI ProTour system. Following a dispute and power struggle between the UCI and the organisers of the Grand Tours, ASO, RCS and Unipublic, a number of events were run as ProTour events, although without ProTour licences...

     when he was suspended from the competition before the final race, the Giro di Lombardia
    2007 Giro di Lombardia
    The 2007 Giro di Lombardia is the 101st edition of this single day road bicycle racing monument race. The 242 km event took place on October 14, 2007 and was won by Damiano Cunego, the Italian rider for Lampre-Fondital in 5 hours, 52 minutes 48 seconds at an average speed of 41.16 km/h.-...

    , due to alleged involvement in the Oil for Drugs
    Oil for Drugs
    The Oil for Drugs case is an Italian doping case against doctor Carlo Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He is accused of administering prohibited doping products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network...

     doping case, for which he received a three month suspension through the close season.

  • Marco Fertonani
    Marco Fertonani
    Marco Fertonani is an Italian professional road bicycle racer. In 2007 he tested positive for using testosterone.-Professional career:...

     of Italy tested positive for using testosterone during the 2007 Tour Méditerranéen
    Tour Méditerranéen
    Tour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...

     and was immediately suspended by the Caisse d'Epargne team. He is contesting the case, citing errors in the testing procedure at the laboratory. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Alesandro Fatato of Italy "Failed to Comply" with the testing procedures in competition on 14 January 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 1 year."

  • Franklin Gomes de Almeida of Brazil tested positive for Stanozolol
    Stanozolol
    Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

     'in competition' on 12 April 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."

  • Serhiy Honchar
    Serhiy Honchar
    Serhiy Honchar is a Ukrainian former professional road racing cyclist. He is a former world time trial champion. In the 2006 Tour de France, Honchar lead the general classification after a time-trial win in stage 7....

     of the Ukraine was sidelined from T-Mobile Team
    T-Mobile Team
    HTC-Highroad is a professional cycling team competing in international road bicycle races. Their current title sponsor is HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. High Road Sports is the management company of team manager Bob Stapleton. Past title sponsors include Columbia...

    's 2007 Giro d'Italia
    2007 Giro d'Italia
    The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...

     squad after a blood test showed abnormalities in blood tests conducted during Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Tour of Romandie. Its contract was later terminated for violations of the Team Code of Conduct,.

  • Mathias Kessler of Germany was suspended by Astana on 27 June 2007, for failing a drugs test for testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

     taken in Charleroi
    Charleroi
    Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...

     in April 2007. He was then fired on 13 July.

  • Christian Moreni of Italy tested positive for Testosterone 'in competition' on July 19, 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years.".

  • Giuseppe Muraglia
    Giuseppe Muraglia
    Giuseppe Muraglia is an Italian racing cyclist currently riding for the Italian team D'Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo. In October 2007 he was suspended from riding for two years following a positive test after winning the Clásica de Almería.-Professional career:In 2007 he tested positive for hCG after...

     of Italy tested positive for hCG
    Human chorionic gonadotropin
    Human chorionic gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast .. Some tumors make this hormone; measured elevated levels when the patient is not...

     after winning the 2007 edition of Clásica de Almería
    Clásica de Almería
    The Clásica de Almería is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in March in Almería, Spain, starting and finishing in Almería itself. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. Established in 1986, the race was run as an amateur event in its first six years...

     on 4 March 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years.". He was also sacked from his team, Acqua & Sapone.

  • Magno Prado Navaret of Brazil tested positive for Sibutramine
    Sibutramine
    Sibutramine is an oral anorexiant. Until 2010 it was marketed and prescribed as an adjunct in the treatment of exogenous obesity along with diet and exercise...

     'in competition' on 27 April 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 8 months."

  • Nathan O'Neill
    Nathan O'Neill
    Nathan O'Neill is a former Australian professional road racing cyclist.- Career :O'Neill was born in Sydney in 1974. He began cycling in 1989, when he attended a 16 kilometre handicap race before school, following the suggestion by a friend. The race started at 6am and O'Neill won it...

     of Australia. On 6 November 2007 his contract with the Health Net Pro Cycling Team
    Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis
    Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis was run by Momentum Sports Group and based in the United States....

     was terminated after a positive test for the appetite suppressant drug phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     O'Neill had a prescription for Phentermine, which meant his possession of it was legal, but its use failed to meet the guidelines of the UCI/WADA code and that set out by the team's medical director.

  • Leonardo Piepoli
    Leonardo Piepoli
    Leonardo Piepoli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He most recently rode for on the UCI ProTour, but had his contract suspended in July 2008 during the Tour de France amid allegations of the use of the blood boosting drug EPO in the team.-Career:He is a record four-time winner of the...

     of Italy tested positive for Salbutamol (>1000 ng/ml) on both 22 and 30 May 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "Acquitted due to medical reasons."

  • Aketza Peña
    Aketza Peña
    Aketza Peña Iza is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rode for UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi between 2004 and 2007. During the 2007 Giro d'Italia, it was revealed he had tested positive for nandrolone at the Giro del Trentino, and had to leave the race.- External links :*...

     of Spain and the Euskaltel-Euskadi
    Euskaltel-Euskadi
    Euskaltel-Euskadi is a professional road bicycle racing team from Spain. The team is commercially sponsored, but also works as an unofficial Basque national team and is partly funded by the Basque Government. Its riders are either from Basque Country, or at least have grown up in the cycling...

     team tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone on 30 May 2007. The sample was taken after stage one of the Giro del Trentino
    Giro del Trentino
    The Giro del Trentino is an Italian cycle road race. It is run typically mid-to-late April over four stages in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy....

     on 24 April and was announced during the 2007 Giro d'Italia
    2007 Giro d'Italia
    The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...

    . The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"

  • Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...

     of Italy tested positive for Salbutamol (>1000 ng/ml) 'in competition' on 23 May 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "Acquitted due to medical reasons. (under appeal by NADO and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA)".

  • Juan Carlos Rojas Villegas of Costa Rica tested positive for Phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

     'in competition' on 4 May 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • José Antonio Pecharroman Fabian from Spain tested positive for Finasteride
    Finasteride
    Finasteride is a synthetic antiandrogen that inhibits type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone...

     'in competition' on 26 August 2007. The UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"UCI list of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007'

  • Svetlana Semchouk of the Ukraine tested positive for Cannabis
    Cannabis
    Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...

     'in competition' on 27 September 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and warning".

  • Patrick Sinkewitz of Germany tested positive for testosterone at the Tour de France 2007. Sinkewitz failed to start Stage 9 after colliding with a spectator the previous day. On 18 July 2007, Sinkewitz "A" blood sample tested positive for using testosterone
    Testosterone
    Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

    /doping and was on the same day suspended by his team T-Mobile. On 31 July 2007, Sinkewitz was fired by the T-Mobile team after he declined to have his "B" blood sample tested. He also admitted to having used Testogel, a topically applied testosterone ointment. On 3 November, he admitted using banned EPO and blood transfusions in the past.

  • Marcin Sobiepanek of Poland tested positive for Norandrosterone 'in competition' on 21 October 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years".

  • Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan tested positive for Homologous Blood Transfusion 'in competition' on 21 July 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 1 year. (under appeal by UCI)".

  • On December 20, Iban Mayo
    Iban Mayo
    Iban Mayo Diez is a professional road bicycle racer. His successes have been overshadowed by doping....

    's B sample result was confirmed as positive for EPO by the LNDD. On the same day, Björn Leukemans
    Björn Leukemans
    Björn Leukemans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. During 2008 Leukemans was suspended for doping with artificial testosterone. For 2009 he joined the .- Palmares :2011...

    ' B sample result was confirmed as being positive for artificial testosterone. Mayo was suspended for two years and never returned to cycling, Leukemans was suspended for the 2008 season.


2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...

- The event was affected by a series of scandals and speculations related to doping
Doping at the 2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France was affected by a series of scandals and speculations related to doping. By the end of the Tour, two cyclists were dismissed for testing positive, the wearer of the yellow jersey was voluntarily retired by his team for lying about his whereabouts and missing doping tests...

. By the end of the Tour, two cyclists were dismissed for testing positive, the wearer of the yellow jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...

, Michael Rasmussen
Michael Rasmussen
Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour...

 was voluntarily retired by his team for lying about his whereabouts and missing doping tests. A fourth rider was confirmed to having used doping while in a training session prior to the 2007 Tour and a fifth rider tested positive late in the race, with his result being officially announced just after the end of the Tour. Along the way, two teams contesting the competition were asked to withdraw due to positive tests of at least one member.

Positive doping tests

Date Cyclist Banned substance Reference
3 March Testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/may08/may06news2
11 April Stanozolol
Stanozolol
Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...

 (steroid)
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/may08/may10news
28 June EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug01news
29 June EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug01news
5 July EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7502763.stm
8 July EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=185&art_id=nw20080719130626460C437381
8 July MIRCERA
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/sports/sportsspecial1/18tour.html?ref=sports
23 July MIRCERA
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug06news
24 July heptaminol
Heptaminol
Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasoconstrictor . It is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7527891.stm
31 July EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

The Daily Telegraph, Spanish cyclist Maria Moreno fails drugs test at Beijing Olympics
7 October MIRCERA
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/oct08/oct07news
7 October MIRCERA
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/oct08/oct07news
12 October MIRCERA
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/oct08/oct13news4
10 December http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/dec08/dec10news

Doping cases

  • Igor Astarloa
    Igor Astarloa
    Igor Astarloa Askasibar is a retired cyclist from Spain.-Career:Astarloa turned professional with the Italian cycling team and enjoyed his best season in 2003 with team when he won the Flèche Wallonne and the road race title at the World Cycling Championships at Hamilton, Canada...

     had his contract terminated in May 2008 by Team Milram
    Team MILRAM
    Team Milram was a German pro cycling team, participating at the UCI ProTour.The pro cycling team was founded in the beginning of 2006, taking over the UCI ProTeam license of Team Domina Vacanze. The main sponsor is the Milram brand of the Bremen based Nordmilch company...

     following disclosures that he had shown irregular blood values.

  • Manuel Beltrán
    Manuel Beltrán
    Manuel Beltrán Martinez is a professional road bicycle racer from Spain. Beltrán won his first professional race at the 1997 Giro d'Italia, winning stage 19. His finishes in the Tour de France are somewhat misleading as he was a lieutenant for his team leader...

     tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     after the first stage of the Tour de France. The news broke on 11 July 2008. Blood abnormalities before the tour start had led French anti-doping agency AFLD to target the rider. Beltrán's team Liquigas
    Liquigas
    Liquigas-Cannondale is an Italian professional road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. The current title sponsor is Liquigas, a provider of liquified gas products in Italy. The second sponsor, Cannondale, is an American bicycle manufacturing company, whose sponsorship has led to a small...

     withdrew him from the tour with immediate effect. French police questioned Beltrán over possible offences, and searched his hotel room. The B-Sample has not yet been tested.

  • Tom Boonen
    Tom Boonen
    Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

     tested positive for cocaine
    Cocaine
    Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...

     in a test on 26 May 2008. Since this was outside competition he does not face sanctions by the UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     or WADA
    World Anti-Doping Agency
    The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...

     but was barred from the 2008 Tour de France.

  • Paolo Bossoni
    Paolo Bossoni
    Paolo Bossoni is an Italian professional road bicycle racer.- Palmares :* 2nd, National Road Race Championship ** 3rd * Trofeo Citta' di Castelfidardo * Coppa Sabatini...

     tested positive for EPO after placing sixth at the Italian National Road Race Championships.

  • Giovanni Carini tested positive for EPO after winning the Elite without contract category at the Italian Championships in Boltiere
    Boltiere
    Boltiere is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 35 km northeast of Milan and about 13 km southwest of Bergamo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 4,695 and an area of 4.1 km².Boltiere borders the following municipalities:...

    .

  • Jimmy Casper
    Jimmy Casper
    thumb|leftJimmy Casper is a French professional road bicycle racer for the UCI Professional Continental team Saur-Sojasun....

     of France tested positive for corticosteroid
    Corticosteroid
    Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...

    , an asthma drug that is banned unless the user has a medical exemption for its use, during the 2008 Tour de France
    2008 Tour de France
    The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...

     by the Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage
    Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage
    Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage , often referred to in English as the French Anti-Doping Agency, although this is not a direct translation of the name, is an independent public authority formed in 2006 and charged with ensuring that participants in sports in France do not violate rules...

    . He failed to renew this exemption. He was fully exonerated by the French cycling federation's disciplinary commission and rejoined his Agritubel team after he proved that the theraputic use exemption (TUE) which he had carried for 12 years had expired 1 month before the Tour de France.

  • Moisés Dueñas was withdrawn from the Barloworld team before the 11th stage of the Tour de France on 16 July. The official statement from ASO
    Amaury Sport Organisation
    The Amaury Sport Organisation is part of the French media group, EPA . It organises sporting events including the Tour de France and Paris–Nice professional cycle road races, and the Dakar Rally...

     stated that he had tested positive for EPO at the end of the time trial fourth stage. Barloworld, two days later, announced that they were withdrawing from sponsorship after this year's Tour de France.

  • Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams throughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and . He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring...

    's appeal was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

     (CAS). He had sought to reverse a three-month ban he served for his involvement in the Oil for Drugs
    Oil for Drugs
    The Oil for Drugs case is an Italian doping case against doctor Carlo Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He is accused of administering prohibited doping products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network...

     doping case. The CAS also rejected the appeal by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), which sought to increase the ban to two years.

  • Dmitry Fofonov
    Dmitry Fofonov
    Dmitry Fofonov is a Kazakh professional road bicycle racer who was fired from UCI ProTeam Crédit Agricole for doping.Fofonov tested positive for heptaminol after the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France. Fofonov had completed the race in 19th place, and was fired by Crédit Agricole after the test...

     tested positive for banned stimulant heptaminol
    Heptaminol
    Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasoconstrictor . It is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension....

     after the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France
    2008 Tour de France
    The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...

    . Fofonov had completed the race in nineteenth place, and was fired by Crédit Agricole after it was made aware of the positive test.

  • Vladimir Gusev was fired from Astana Team
    Astana Team
    Astana is a professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the Astana group, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan and named after its capital city Astana. Astana attained UCI ProTeam status in its inaugural year, 2007...

     as a result of irregular values detected by its internal anti-doping program run by Doctor Rasmus Damsgaard. However, on June 15, 2009 the Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

     decided in Gusev's favor, declared that Astana was wrong in the firing, and ordered that they compensate Gusev for back-pay, legal costs, and damages.

  • Floyd Landis
    Floyd Landis
    Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...

     lost his final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

    . It was concluded from the evidence presented that the presence of exogenous testosterone or its precursors or metabolites in Floyd Landis' sample proved that he violated the anti-doping rules of the UCI. Landis will serve a full two-year suspension that is back-dated to 30 January 2007. Additionally, Landis was ordered to pay $100,000 in costs to the USADA.

  • Eddy Mazzoleni
    Eddy Mazzoleni
    Eddy Mazzoleni is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who most recently rode for UCI ProTour Astana Team....

     was handed a two-year ban in April 2008 by the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) for his involvement in the Oil for Drugs
    Oil for Drugs
    The Oil for Drugs case is an Italian doping case against doctor Carlo Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He is accused of administering prohibited doping products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network...

     affair. The FCI also banned 28 year-old former Ceramica Flaminia
    Ceramica Flaminia
    Ceramica Flaminia is a professional continental cycling team based in Italy that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and when selected as a wildcard to UCI ProTour events...

     rider Domenico Quagliariello for life for his involvement in the same affair.

  • Maria Moreno of Spain tested positive for EPO at the Beijing Olympics
    2008 Summer Olympics
    The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

     on 31 July. She left China on the day of the test, before the results were published, and reports in Spain claimed an 'anxiety attack'. IOC communications director Giselle Davies said: "She was tested in the Village and she had already left China that evening before having had the result. The test has come back positive for EPO. The disciplinary commission has ruled that she should be excluded from the Games and have her accreditation withdrawn." The IOC passed the case to the UCI for follow up.

  • Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...

     was suspended for one year by The Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

     (CAS) for having tested positive for an asthma medication during the 2007 Giro d'Italia
    2007 Giro d'Italia
    The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial...

    .

  • Leonardo Piepoli
    Leonardo Piepoli
    Leonardo Piepoli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He most recently rode for on the UCI ProTour, but had his contract suspended in July 2008 during the Tour de France amid allegations of the use of the blood boosting drug EPO in the team.-Career:He is a record four-time winner of the...

    , winner of stage 10 of the 2008 Tour de France, was sacked by his team for "violation of the team's ethics code" the following day, though no positive test had been reported by that date. He confessed to his team manager that he had used the same MIRCERA
    Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
    Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

    , a new 'third generation' type of EPO, as team-mate Riccardo Riccò. On 7 October it was reported that Piepoli had tested positive for Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator
    Continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator
    Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator is the generic term for drugs in a new class of third-generation erythropoietic-stimulating agents . In the media, these agents are commonly referred to as 'EPO', short for erythropoietin...

     on 4 July and 15 July.

  • The Portuguese
    Portugal
    Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

     cycling team LA-MSS had its headquarters searched by police where doping products such as doping substances, medications, equipment to conduct blood transfusions and instruments for clinical use were found. In June 2008, the Portuguese Cycling Federation (UVP/FCP) suspended nine members of the team temporarily pending the outcome of the investigation; five of which were riders and four were team staff.

  • Michael Rasmussen
    Michael Rasmussen
    Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour...

     was handed a two-year suspension by the Monaco cycling federation for missed controls before the 2007 Tour de France
    2007 Tour de France
    The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...

    .

  • Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...

     was kicked out of the 2008 Tour de France
    2008 Tour de France
    The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...

     on 17 July 2008, after reports that a urine sample tested positive for MIRCERA
    Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
    Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is the active ingredient of a drug marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the brand name Mircera. Mircera is a long-acting erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of patients with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease. It is the...

    , a new type of EPO, at the end of stage 4. There had not previously been any public acknowledgment that a test for the new drug was being administered, or had even been developed yet. The Tour de France testing was done under the auspices of the French Cycling Federation and the French Anti-Doping Agency, not the Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

    .

  • Maximiliano Richeze
    Maximiliano Richeze
    Ariel Maximiliano Richeze is an Argentine professional cyclist who rides for the D'Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo team....

     tested positive for a steroid named stanazol before the start of the 2008 Giro d'Italia, which resulted in his expulsion from the race, but later the case was dismissed by the Argentinian federation since it was proved Richeze was not to blame.

  • Emanuele Sella
    Emanuele Sella
    Emanuele Sella is an Italian road racing cyclist who currently rides with the Italian team .In out of competition control testing, performed July 23, 2008, Sella was found to test positive for CERA, the third generation EPO according to La Gazzetta dello Sport...

     was found to test positive for CERA, the third generation EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

    , in out of competition control testing, performed 23 July 2008. UCI President Pat McQuaid
    Pat McQuaid
    Patrick "Pat" McQuaid is a former Irish professional road racing cyclist and current president of the Union Cycliste Internationale .-Background:...

     noted that Sella had been targeted based on his actions in and out of racing. Sella won the climber's maglia verde at the 2008 Giro d'Italia
    2008 Giro d'Italia
    The 2008 Giro d'Italia was the 91st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in Palermo on 10 May and ended in Milan on 1 June. Twenty-two teams entered the race, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Contador of the cycling team...

     and also won three stages.

  • Ondrej Sosenka
    Ondrej Sosenka
    Ondřej Sosenka is a Czech professional cyclist and rides for the UCI Professional Continental team PSK Whirlpool-Author. He won the Peace Race in 2002. He broke the nine-year old UCI hour record on July 19, 2005 in Moscow, Russia, riding in one hour.Sosenka was known as one of the largest...

     of the Czech Republic
    Czech Republic
    The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

    , who broke the UCI
    Union Cycliste Internationale
    Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

     hour record
    Hour record
    The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale . It is one of the most prestigious in cycling...

     in 2005, he tested positive for the banned stimulant methamphetamine
    Methamphetamine
    Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...

     and its metabolites during his national time trial championships in June 2008, he now faces a suspension which will mostly likely end his career.

  • During the Vuelta a Colombia
    Vuelta a Colombia
    The Vuelta a Colombia is an annual cycling road race, run over many stages throughout different regions in Colombia and sometimes Venezuela during the first days of August. It is organized by the Colombian Cycling Federation.The first Vuelta a Colombia was held in 1951...

     six riders returned positive doping controls. It was not revealed which substance caused the findings for Rafael Montiel
    Rafael Montiel
    Rafael Anibal Montiel Cuéllar is a male professional road cyclist from Colombia.-Career:20052006...

    , Juan Guillermo Castro, Camilo Gomez
    Camilo Gómez
    Camilo Andrés Gómez Archila is a male professional road racing cyclist from Colombia.-Career:2003...

    , Carlos Ospina Hernandez, Hernán Buenahora
    Hernan Buenahora
    Hernán Buenahora Gutíerrez is a Colombian road racing cyclist, who was nicknamed El Cabrito de Barichara during his career...

     and Giovanni Barriga.

  • In May 2008 the UCI revealed that 23 riders were under suspicion of doping following the first phase of blood tests conducted under the new biological passport
    Biological passport
    An athlete biological passport is an individual, electronic record for professional athletes, in which profiles of biological markers of doping and results of doping tests are collated over a period of time...

     established at the start of the season. A biological passport is an individual, electronic record for each rider, in which the results of all doping tests over a period of time are collated. Doping violations can be detected by noting variances from an athlete's established levels outside permissible limits, rather than testing for and identifying illegal substances.

2009

  • On 11 February, the Italian National Olympic Committee matched DNA samples taken from Alejandro Valverde
    Alejandro Valverde
    Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship...

     during a rest day in Italy of the 2008 Tour de France to blood seized in the Operación Puerto investigation. At a February 2009 appearance in front of the Olympic Committee, Valverde maintained his innocence and questioned the Italians' jurisdiction over this case. In May 2009, the Italian Olympic Committee suspended him from competition in Italy for 2 years, effectively barring him from the 2009 Tour de France
    2009 Tour de France
    The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...

    , which detoured briefly onto Italian soil.

  • On April 17, it was announced Tyler Hamilton
    Tyler Hamilton
    Tyler Hamilton is a former American professional road bicycle racer and former Olympic gold medalist. Hamilton became a professional cyclist in 1995, and during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tour de France was a teammate of Lance Armstrong who won those races.Hamilton appeared at the 2000 Summer...

     tested positive for banned steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone
    Dehydroepiandrosterone
    5-Dehydroepiandrosterone is a 19-carbon endogenous steroid hormone. It is the major secretory steroidal product of the adrenal glands and is also produced by the gonads and the brain. DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans....

     (DHEA) after an out-of-competition control in early February. He faces a lifelong ban, and decided to retire with immediate effect.

  • On April 29, it was announced former teammates Davide Rebellin
    Davide Rebellin
    Davide Rebellin is an Italian road bicycle racer, currently riding for the Italian Miche-Guerciotti team. He served a 2-year suspension for testing positive for Mircera at the 2008 Olympic Games...

     and Stefan Schumacher
    Stefan Schumacher
    Stefan Schumacher is a German professional road racing cyclist.-Career:First professionally employed with Team Telekom in 2002, he was released the following year...

     tested positive for Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator
    Continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator
    Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator is the generic term for drugs in a new class of third-generation erythropoietic-stimulating agents . In the media, these agents are commonly referred to as 'EPO', short for erythropoietin...

     (CERA) during the 2008 Summer Olympics
    2008 Summer Olympics
    The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

    .

  • Christian Pfannberger
    Christian Pfannberger
    Christian Pfannberger is an Austrian former professional road racing cyclist. He was a two-time Austrian national road-race champion . Other achievements included winning the U23 National Championship in 2001 and the Giro del Capo, a stage race in South Africa in 2008...

     tested not-negative in an out-of-competition test on March 19. He was suspended by his team Katusha
    Team Katusha
    Team Katusha is a Russian road bicycle racing team which participates in the UCI World Tour, using Focus bikes.- History :At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Tinkoff Credit Systems squad was renamed to Team Katusha. It is organised by the Russian Global Cycling Project foundation, which...

     several days before the Giro
    2009 Giro d'Italia
    The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...

    .

  • Tom Boonen
    Tom Boonen
    Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

     tested positive for cocaine
    Cocaine
    Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...

     in an out of competition test on 27 April. He had previously been found to have taken the same substance in May 2008.

  • Antonio Colom
    Antonio Colom
    Antonio Colom Mas is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer from Bunyola. He is a specialist in short stage races, having won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in 2006, the Vuelta a Mallorca in 2004 and the Vuelta a Andalucía in 2002....

     tested positive for EPO
    Erythropoietin
    Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

     in an out of competition test on 2 April. He was targeted for additional controls using information from his blood profile. Colom's positive drug test is the second within the ranks of Katusha within five weeks (see Christian Pfannberger
    Christian Pfannberger
    Christian Pfannberger is an Austrian former professional road racing cyclist. He was a two-time Austrian national road-race champion . Other achievements included winning the U23 National Championship in 2001 and the Giro del Capo, a stage race in South Africa in 2008...

    ).

  • On July 1, it was announced that a re-test of an out-of-competition sample collected from Thomas Dekker
    Thomas Dekker (cyclist)
    Thomas Dekker is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for Garmin-Cervélo’s development team, Chipotle Development Team. His career highlights include winning Tirreno-Adriatico in 2006 and Tour de Romandie in 2007...

     in December 2007, while Dekker was a member of the Rabobank Team, had shown the presence of EPO. In 2008, Dekker had transferred from Rabobank to Silence-Lotto. Silence-Lotto immediately suspended Dekker.

  • On 2 July 2009 Clément Lhotellerie
    Clément Lhotellerie
    Clément Lhotellerie is a French road racing cyclist.-Career:Lhotellerie was an accomplished mountain-biker and cyclo-cross rider before switching to the road. He had won the French cyclo-cross championships in Juniors and U23 categories. He turned professional for Skil-Shimano cycling team in 2007...

     was dismissed from Vacansoleil's team roster after the French 23-year old had tested on methylhexanamine on 28 April of that year. The substance, an active ingredient in nasal congestion medication, is listed on the banned lists of both the UCI and WADA. It is the second time in as many years that Lhotellerie has been dismissed by a team. Despite promising results in Paris–Nice, the Fleche Wallonne and the 4 Jours de Dunkirk, Skil-Shimano dissolved its contract with the rider last year after he failed to attend two appointments with the team.

  • On 22 July 2009, it was announced that Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca
    Danilo Di Luca is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams throughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and . He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring...

     had tested positive for CERA on 20 and 28 May 2009, during the Giro d'Italia. He was provisionally suspended with immediate effect by the UCI.

  • On 31 July 2009, it was announced that Mikel Astarloza
    Mikel Astarloza
    Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau is a Basque professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .In 2003 he won his first race, when he finished just in front of Lennie Kristensen in the overall rankings of the Tour Down Under...

     had tested positive for Recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) on 26 June 2009 and was being provisionally suspended by the UCI.

  • On 17 September 2009, the German Cycling Federation announced that Olaf Pollack
    Olaf Pollack
    Olaf Pollack is a professional road racing cyclist specializing in sprint races and competitions....

     and Markus Cronjäger had been provisionally suspended after returning positive doping controls. Pollack tested positive in an out-of-competition test on July 6 and Cronjäger tested positive after a control conducted at the Rund um den Odenwald on July 11.

  • On 18 September 2009, it was announced that Liberty Seguros Continental team riders Nuno Ribeiro
    Nuno Ribeiro
    Nuno Jorge Ribeiro Gaspar is a Portuguese professional road bicycle racer, he was the winner of the 2003 , he also placed first in the 2009 edition, however he was later disqualified due to testing positive for CERA in a doping test and was banned for two years.- References :...

    , Isidro Nozal
    Isidro Nozal
    Isidro Nozal Vega is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He has become somewhat famous for not showering during Grand Tours for fear that the water will soften his muscles...

     and Hector Guerra tested positive for EPO-CERA in controls prior to the Tour of Portugal. Ribeiro went on to win the general classification.

  • On 6 October 2009, it was announced that Gabriele Bosisio
    Gabriele Bosisio
    Gabriele Bosisio is an Italian professional road bicycle racer. Bosision rode for Tenax between 2003 and 2005 and for UCI Professional Continental team between 2008 and 2009....

     of the LPR Brakes team had tested positive on EPO during an out-of-competition test in September. Bosisio had won a stage in the 2008 Giro. Of the same team the following riders have a tainted past: Lorenzo Bernucci (Sibutramine, 2007), Di Luca (not allowed to take part in the 04 Tour; unusual low hormone levels in the 2007 Giro, suspended over his share in the Oil For Drugs, he tested positive on CERA on two occasions during the 2009 Giro) and Alessandro Petacchi (nandrolon, 2007). .

2010

  • On 29 January 2010, Italian Vania Rossi
    Vania Rossi
    Vania Rossi is a professional cyclocross bicycle racer from Italy. On 29 January 2010 Rossi was reported positive for EPO CERA by the Italian Olympic Committee. The Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano controlled her on January 10 after she finished second in the women's national cyclocross...

     was reported positive for CERA by the Italian Olympic Committee. The Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI) controlled Rossi on January 10 after she finished second in the women's national cyclocross championships. Her B sample subsequently came back negative. Rossi is the partner of Italian professional cyclist Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...

    , who himself tested positive for CERA at the 2008 Tour de France. Her B sample later came back negative, and she was cleared of all charges.

  • On 11 March, Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak, who finished first and second in the under 23 race of the 2010 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
    2010 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
    The 2010 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships is the World Championship for cyclo-cross. It took place in Tábor, Czech Republic on the weekend of January 30 and 31, 2010. As in 2009, four events were scheduled.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-External links:...

    , have returned positive results for EPO, in controls carried out at the event which took place in Tabor, Czech Republic in January. The two had been targeted after suspicious blood profiles were revealed as part of their respective biological passports. Their B samples will have to be analysed before any suspension is handed out. A week later, Kacper Szczepaniak reportedly attempted to commit suicide.

  • Manuel Vazquez Hueso of Spain was found, on 14 March, to have taken EPO, and in January 2011 the UCI handed down a fine of €35,000 and suspension until April 2012.

  • On 16 March 2010, Alejandro Valverde
    Alejandro Valverde
    Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship...

    's appeal against his ban from riding in Italy was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
    Court of Arbitration for Sport
    The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...

    . It was confirmed that he could not ride on Italian soil again until 10 March 2011. A UCI press statement, issued after this hearing, stated that "the UCI expresses its determination to take the necessary measures to secure a suspension that is applicable internationally." The UCI President Pat McQuaid
    Pat McQuaid
    Patrick "Pat" McQuaid is a former Irish professional road racing cyclist and current president of the Union Cycliste Internationale .-Background:...

     stated later that it will seek to extend Valverde's ban worldwide. On 27 March, McQuaid said that the UCI will wait to impose a worldwide ban on Valverde until CAS rules on an appeal by the UCI, protesting the fact that the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) did not open disciplinary proceedings against Valverde. The CAS ruled on 31 May that the suspension could be enforced, and the UCI applied a retroactive two year suspension on Valverde from 1 January 2010. In additionto this, all of his results from 2010 were nullified.

  • On 6 April 2010, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport
    La Gazzetta dello Sport
    La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...

     revealed that a doping investigation based around the town of Mariana Mantovana
    Mariana Mantovana
    Mariana Mantovana is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 110 km southeast of Milan and about 25 km west of Mantua. , it had a population of 648 and an area of 8.8 km²....

     in Lombardy had been commenced by Italian police. It reported that the investigation could involve 54 people relating to events in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The cycling coach/doctor Guido Negrelli, who has worked in the past with Lampre riders and the team manager Giuseppe Saronni
    Giuseppe Saronni
    Giuseppe Saronni , also known as Beppe Saronni, is an Italian former racing cyclist.-Biography:Born in Novara, Piedmont, Saronni turned professional in 1977. During his career, that lasted until 1989, he won 193 races...

     is allegedly at the centre of the investigation. Lampre-Farnese Vini's team doctors and two riders, Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...

     and Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently serving a suspension. He rose to international prominence when he won stage 6 of the 2005 Tour de France, when riding for ....

    , had their homes searched as part of the investigation. Bernucci was suspended after police reportedly found banned products in his house. He remains suspended until his team receive further information about the search. A day later, the same newspaper revealed more details of the investigation, claiming that 16 of the teams riders and staff had been placed under formal investigation for doping related offences. Amongst the names mentioned by the newspaper are current and former Lampre riders, including Francesco Gavazzi
    Francesco Gavazzi
    Francesco Gavazzi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Lampre-N.G.C..-Palmares:2011* 1st, Stage 18 2011 Vuelta a Espana* 1st, Stage 5, Tour of the Basque Country...

    , Damiano Cunego
    Damiano Cunego
    Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins are the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Amstel Gold Race, and the Giro di Lombardia in 2004, 2007, 2008. He finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the...

    , Alessandro Ballan
    Alessandro Ballan
    Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years...

    , and Mauro Santambrogio
    Mauro Santambrogio
    Mauro Santambrogio is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2004Mauro Santambrogio is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam ....

     (Both now at BMC Racing Team
    BMC Racing Team
    BMC Racing Team is a UCI ProTeam title sponsored by BMC Racing, a Swiss-based bicycle frame manufacturer. The team is co-owned by American cyclist Jim Ochowicz, who founded the 7-Eleven Cycling Team, and is managed by Gavin Chilcott with assistance from directeur sportif John Lelangue.The team...

    ). Team manager Saronni, directeur sportifs Fabrizio Bontempi and Maurizio Piovani, current coach Sergio Gelati, and former Lampre doctor Dr Andrea Andreazzoli (now at Astana Team
    Astana Team
    Astana is a professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the Astana group, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan and named after its capital city Astana. Astana attained UCI ProTeam status in its inaugural year, 2007...

     were also named. On 9 April, BMC Racing suspended its riders Ballan and Santambrogio pending the outcome of the police investigation.

  • On 22 April 2010 Swiss Rider Thomas Frei
    Thomas Frei
    Thomas Frei is a Swiss road bicycle racer. Frei was Swiss Junior champion in road cycling in 2002. Between 2004 and 2006 he cycled for the Bürgis Cycling Team and won the Mountain Championship for U23 cyclists. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Frei rode for UCI ProTour team before moving to for...

    's A sample, taken during the Giro del Trentino
    Giro del Trentino
    The Giro del Trentino is an Italian cycle road race. It is run typically mid-to-late April over four stages in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy....

    , was found to be positive for EPO. He was suspended by his team, BMC Racing Team
    BMC Racing Team
    BMC Racing Team is a UCI ProTeam title sponsored by BMC Racing, a Swiss-based bicycle frame manufacturer. The team is co-owned by American cyclist Jim Ochowicz, who founded the 7-Eleven Cycling Team, and is managed by Gavin Chilcott with assistance from directeur sportif John Lelangue.The team...

    , pending further investigation and testing of his B sample.

  • Also on 22 April 2010, the UCI announced that Team Radio Shack rider Li Fuyu
    Li Fuyu
    Li Fuyu is a Chinese professional road bicycle racer. Li rode with Marco Polo from 2005 to 2006, before switching to the Pro Tour under coach Johan Bruyneel for the 2007 season...

     had tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the Dwars door Vlaanderen
    Dwars door Vlaanderen
    Dwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...

     on March 23. He has been suspended by his team pending the outcome of the B sample testing.

  • On 28 April, it was announced that Gabriele Bosisio
    Gabriele Bosisio
    Gabriele Bosisio is an Italian professional road bicycle racer. Bosision rode for Tenax between 2003 and 2005 and for UCI Professional Continental team between 2008 and 2009....

     would be suspended from professional cycling for 2 years. He tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition test in September 2009. He was provisionally suspended by the UCI on October 6, and so his ban will end on 5 October 2011.

  • On 3 May, the UCI announced the names of three riders who had returned irregular blood values in their blood passport. These riders were Franco Pellizotti
    Franco Pellizotti
    Franco Pellizotti is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently suspended from the sport....

    , Jesus Rosendo Prado and Tadej Valjavec
    Tadej Valjavec
    Tadej Valjavec is a Slovenian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Continental team Zheroquadro Radenska. He is well known as a good climber due to his rides on mountain stages in the Giro d'Italia...

    . On 22 June, the Spanish Cycling Federation cleared Rosendo. On 30 July, Valjavec was cleared by the Slovenian anti-doping agency. On 21 October, Pellizotti was also cleared by his own national anti-doping agency. The UCI is expected to appeal these decisions.

  • One day later, on 4 May, it was announced that French rider Mickaël Larpe had tested positive for EPO, ten hours after his house was raided by police.

  • On 27 May, Francesco De Bonis
    Francesco De Bonis
    Francesco De Bonis is an Italian road bicycle racer. In 2008 he won the fourth stage of the Tour de Romandie....

     became the first cyclist to be banned on the evidence of his blood passport results. His 2 year suspension will finish in June 2011, 2 years after he was first stopped from racing.

  • On 3 June, it was announced that Pietro Caucchioli
    Pietro Caucchioli
    Pietro Caucchioli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. Caucchioli is under suspension, since June 2009, following abnormal testing results within the Union Cycliste Internationale's biological passport system.His two stage wins at the 2001 Giro d'Italia and a podium finish at the 2002...

     had been banned for 2 years on the evidence of his irregular blood passport results, found in June 2009. His ban will finish in June 2011.

  • On 17 June, the UCI announced that Ricardo Serrano
    Ricardo Serrano
    Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez is a Spanish racing cyclist under suspension since June 2009 following abnormal testing results within the Union Cycliste Internationale's biological passport system.- Professional record :...

     had been suspended by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) for two years due to CERA having been found in two separate blood samples collected around a year ago. He was also implicated due to abnormal values in his blood passport.

  • On 20 June, media reports told of how Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi
    Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...

     had been notified at the start of the Tour de France that he had been placed under investigation by a prosecutor in Padova. Petacchi is accused of having used PFC (Perfluorocarbon) and human serum albumin. The accusations stem from phone taps on a doctor from Brescia.

  • On 7 July, it was announced that Niklas Axelsson
    Niklas Axelsson
    Niklas Axelsson is a Swedish professional road racing cyclist. Axelsson's finished sixth during the 1999 Giro d'Italia and third in the 2000 edition of Giro di Lombardia....

     had been suspended for life following positive analysis of his B-sample for EPO. He had previously been suspended for EPO use in 2001.

  • Three Brazilian riders were sanctioned for adverse findings during the Tour do Rio in July 2010: Jao Paulo de Oliveira (for phentermine
    Phentermine
    Phentermine, a contraction of "phenyl-tertiary-butylamine", is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class, chemically related to amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant....

    ) and two for stanazolol: Lucas Onesco and Jair Fernando dos Santos. All three received a two year suspension and loss of results.

  • On 29 July, the UK Anti-doping agency posted the 2 year suspension for cyclist Dan Staite for EPO and ATD found in sample taken at a National B level event.

  • On 8 September, while he was riding the 2010 Vuelta a España
    2010 Vuelta a España
    The 2010 Vuelta a España was held from August 28 to September 19 and was won by Vincenzo Nibali. The race began in Seville and ended, as is tradition, in Madrid.The race covered...

    , it was announced that Roy Sentjens
    Roy Sentjens
    Roy Sentjens is a Belgian ex-professional road bicycle racer who last competed for UCI ProTour team . The highlight of his career was victory in the Belgian semi-classic Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne in 2003. Sentjens started his career with Rabobank in 2002, and transferred to Predictor-Lotto for the...

     had failed an out of competition doping control and would be suspended from cycling. On September 10, Sentjens admitted to having doped with EPO that he had obtained in Barcelona, Spain, and declined to request the testing of his B-sample. He also announced his immediate retirement from professional cycling.

  • On 16 September, a UCI statement was released announcing that Óscar Sevilla
    Oscar Sevilla
    Óscar Miguel Sevilla Ribera , nicknamed El Niño, is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He is a climber with a pedigree in stage races, having finished in the top ten of the Tour de France and Vuelta a España several times...

     had tested positive for the blood expander Hydroxyethyl starch
    Hydroxyethyl starch
    Hydroxyethyl starch is a nonionic starch derivative. It is one of the most frequently used volume expander under the trade names Hespan by B. Braun Medical Inc...

     after the final stage of the Vuelta a Colombia, which he had won, on 15 August.He has been provisionally suspended. On 30 September, it was announced that the Spanish Cycling Federation will let him continue racing until his B-sample is tested.

  • On 29 September, a UCI statement was released announcing that this year's Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador
    Alberto Contador
    Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...

    , had tested positive for "a very small concentration" of the banned stimulant clenbuterol, on July 21, one of the race's rest days. He has been provisionally suspended by the UCI.

  • On 30 September, the UCI announced that Xacobeo-Galicia riders Ezequiel Mosquera
    Ezequiel Mosquera
    Ezequiel Mosquera Míguez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He has finished in the top 5 of the Vuelta a España in all appearances, and finished second in the 2010, after putting in a strong time trial and winning the penultimate stage to Bola del Mundo.On September 30,...

     and David García Dapena had both tested positive for Hydroxyethyl starch on September 16, during the Vuelta a Espana. Mosquera had finished the race in 2nd place, and Dapena finished 11th overall. On 6 October, it was announced that Garcia Dapena had tested positive for EPO during the race, on 13 September.

  • On 7 October, Joao Benta admitted to doping after having tested positive in July.

  • On 9 October, Alessandro Colo was given a one-year ban by CONI for testing positive for clenbuterol on the last stage of the Vuelta Mexico.

  • On 18 October, two Portuguese riders - Rui Costa
    Rui Costa (cyclist)
    Rui Alberto Faria da Costa is a Portuguese professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam ....

     and his brother Mario - were announced as having tested positive for the substance Methylhexanamine. The samples were taken during the Portuguese National Championships at the end of June. Their ban was reduced to 5 months, rather than the standard 2 years, as they were able to satisfy the panel that this was a case of accidental ingestion, via a contaminated supplement.

2011

  • On February 6, 2011 Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...

     was admitted to a hospital in critical condition after what has been diagnosed as kidney failure, allegedly due to a blood transfusion he performed on himself with 25 day old blood. Ricco admitted he had performed the transfusion to the doctor treating him in the presence of his girlfriend Vania Rossi. The doctor treating him reported this information to authorities leading to an investigation being opened against the professional cyclist by police and the Italian Olympic committee (CONI). He was well enough to be released from hospital within two weeks, and was sacked by his team .

  • In 7 February, it was announced that Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci
    Lorenzo Bernucci is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently serving a suspension. He rose to international prominence when he won stage 6 of the 2005 Tour de France, when riding for ....

     of the Lampre-ISD team had been banned from cycling for five years. After his house was raided in 2010, prohibited substances were found and he was banned for 'the use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or method, as well as the possession of prohibited substances'. Several members of his family were also banned for either three or four years due to their involvement.

  • On 1 March, it was revealed that Tour de San Luis
    Tour de San Luis
    The Tour de San Luis is a road cycling race held in San Luis Province, Argentina. The race consists of only a men's competition over a prologue and five stages. The 2007 Tour de San Luis was the first edition of the race and was part of the 2006–2007 UCI America Tour.-Past winners:-References:* *...

     winner Marco Arriagada had tested positive for an 'anabolic substance' during the National Tour of Chile.

  • On 19 March, it was announced that Patrik Sinkewitz
    Patrik Sinkewitz
    Patrik Sinkewitz is a professional German road racing cyclist for . He is a climbing specialist who can ride well over a stage race, as in winning the 2004 nine-stage Deutschland Tour. He has also ridden well in one-day races such as Liège–Bastogne–Liège, which he finished in the top 10 in 2006...

     had tested positive for hGH
    Growth hormone
    Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...

     at the GP di Lugano in late February. He has been provisionally suspended pending results of his B sample, and could face a lifetime ban for this second offence.

  • On 3 May, CONI announced that Pasquale Muto had tested positive for EPO at the Giro dell'Appenino in April, and subsequent testing of his 'B' sample confirmed the result

  • On June 11, CONI formally suspended Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò
    Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...

    , for "use or attempted use of prohibited methods."

  • On 1 July, USADA announced that Lisban Quintero had accepted a two year ban after testing positive for norandrosterone at the Wilmington Grand Prix on May 22.

  • On 12 July, during the 2011 Tour de France Alexandr Kolobnev
    Alexandr Kolobnev
    Alexandr Viktorovich Kolobnev is a Russian professional road bicycle racer on the UCI ProTour with , currently suspended after his A sample revealed doping products.-Career:...

     was informed by the UCI of an Adverse Analytical Finding for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide
    Hydrochlorothiazide
    Hydrochlorothiazide, abbreviated HCTZ, HCT, or HZT, is a first-line diuretic drug of the thiazide class that acts by inhibiting the kidneys' ability to retain water. This reduces the volume of the blood, decreasing blood return to the heart and thus cardiac output and, by other mechanisms, is...

     in an A sample collected on 6 July 2011. As the UCI Anti-Doping Rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance Kolobnev voluntarily withdrew, with the team waiting on the B sample.

  • On 12 August, David Clinger was issued a lifetime ban by the USADA, for a positive test for Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...

     while serving a ban for a prior offense.

  • On 14 September, Oscar Sevilla
    Oscar Sevilla
    Óscar Miguel Sevilla Ribera , nicknamed El Niño, is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He is a climber with a pedigree in stage races, having finished in the top ten of the Tour de France and Vuelta a España several times...

    was issued a six month ban (14 Sept to 14 March 2012), for a positive test for hydroyethyl starch in 2010

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