Positive CERA test for Sella

Emanuele Sella, a triple stage winner in the Giro d'Italia, has tested positive for CERA, the latest form of the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO).

CERA is the same drug that was found in a sample provided by his fellow climber Riccardo Ricco during the Tour de France.

From Guardian.co.uk:

Sella said yesterday: "I know nothing about this story. No one has said anything to me. None of it is true." But the news was confirmed by the Italian cycling federation, which had announced three other positive tests last week, including that of the women's world road race champion, Marta Bastianelli, for a stimulant found in slimming medicines.

Sella was tested on July 23, out of competition and unannounced, a week after Ricco's positive test which was the first for a substance previously considered undetectable. Sella had been targeted after his three mountain stage wins in the Giro, where the diminutive Italian finished sixth overall and also won the king of the mountains title.

Among his three victories were back-to-back wins in stages 14 and 15. Such a spectacular performance in the mountains was seen as suspicious, the more so because his CSF-Navigare team had had a rider test positive earlier in the season.

The news was confirmed by the Italian cycling federation.