Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco has admitted he should have been caught for doping far earlier than he was during the recent Tour de France.
The 24-year-old was thrown out of the race and could now face criminal charges as well as a two-year ban from cycling after testing positive for blood-boosting drug EPO.
Ricco, who won two stages of this year's tour before being found out, made his confession after appearing before the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor.
And he even mocked the current testing system by claiming he should have been thrown out of the race after his first sample.
"They made 10 tests in about 13 legs, two were positive and in fact in theory all the tests should have been positive -
therefore the method needs to be checked," he said, admitting he wanted to rid himself of a "huge burden".
"I think I have made a good gesture for everyone to have admitted my mistakes."
Ricco was sacked by his Saunier-Duval team, who also withdrew from the tour.
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Hmmm... a 20% accuracy rate won't cut it. Maybe they are not as far along on the war against doping as they think. Hopefully, they will continue to make strides as they have over the past few years and the riders start respecting the sport more too.
Because it gives the appearance of trying to sort the problem out. For the people earning their salary from pro cycling week in week out the fact a 3 week stage race is an anacronism is irrelivant. Vive la tour!
Why have testing when they don't work?
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