Team Katusha rider taken for EPO use – Dagbladet.no

(procycling.no) Giampolo Caruso (Team Katusha) have tested positive for doping, it confirms the International Cycling Union said in a statement today.

The sample was taken out of competition in March 2012 and contains traces of EPO. The rider has been temporarily suspended pending a possible B sample.

– We will wait for the analysis of the B sample before we express our views on the matter. We want to emphasize that this came as a shock, writes Team Katusha in a statement Tuesday night.

Positive for anti-doping work

Alexander Kristoff trainer Stein Eagles had just heard the news when procycling.no talked to him tonight.

– First and foremost, so this is a big advances for anti-doping work. That you can now re-testing the old negative trying to find traces of EPO. It is EPO we are afraid of, that’s what really has an impact on performance. Whether they can find a solution, it would have been fantastic, says Eagle

– You can expect an avalanche of revelations about it proves that they can find micro doses of EPO in old samples. How can expose those who have previously driven with doping.

Can affect VM

Team Katusha is a member of the independent organization MPCC, according to their regulations should be made suspend themselves in 14 days by two positive doping tests during a year.

Since Luca Paolini tested positive for cocaine during the Tour de France, it means made in practice should suspend himself.

This means that case that Joaquim Rodriguez can not set to start in the Tour of Spain next weekend. Then bust also Vattenfall Cyclassics for Alexander Kristoff.

– In the worst case, this frame VM-Ramp pretty hard. It depends how they interpret the regulations. About the rains when the original sample was taken so it is harmless, but if the rains from the time the sample was re-tested so it is critical, says Eagle.

Tough luck Alexander

The Italian has been a faithful domestique for Rodriguez for years, and have not had much contact with Alexander Kristoff.

– It’s kjipt for Alexander’s part that he is being dragged into this, but Caruso and Alexander belong to two different groups and have little contact. But for anti-doping work is this very positively, says Eagle.

This is however the second time the Italian sitting in the doping net. In 2003 he received a six-month long suspension after spending Nandralon (anabolic steroids).

This article is supplied by bike site procycling.no!