Fofonov fails doping control, says team
  November 22, 2024 Login  

Current Articles    |   Archives    |   RSS Feeds    |   Search

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Fofonov fails doping control, says team

by Agence France-Presse at 1:01 PM EST   comments
Categories: Pro Cycling, Tour de France, Doping
 
Kazakhstan's Dmitri Fofonov has tested positive for a banned stimulant, his Credit Agricole team said on the final day of the Tour de France.

The 31-year-old, who learned of his positive test after finishing 19th overall in the race on Sunday, explained to his team he bought a product over the internet to fight cramps. He has been suspended and is now facing the sack.

"He has failed to respect our basic team rules," Credit Agricole manager Roger Legeay told AFP. "No products can be taken by any riders unless they have prior authorisation from the team doctor. "He has made a mistake, which can happen, but it's not good news for us or for him."

Fofonov is the fourth rider from the Tour to have tested positive for a banned substance.

Italian Riccardo Ricco, and Spanish duo Manuel Beltran and Moises Duenas all tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) and were thrown out of the race.

The 31-year-old Fofonov, from Almaty, turned professional in 1998. Since 2000 he has competed with only French teams, picking up just three wins: the national time trial title (2000), a stage on the Tour of Catalonia (2002) and a stage on the Dauphine Libere earlier this year.
      comments




Subscribe via RSS or daily email

WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
  Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy  Copyright 2008-2013 by VeloNation LLC