Italian cycling couple Riccardo Riccò and Vania Rossi have gone their separate ways after the events of the past couple weeks. Rossi tested positive for the third generation form of EPO, CERA, at a control that was taken following the National Cyclo-cross Championships on January 20th, where she finished in second place.
"I can't believe it. I have done nothing of the accusations against me," Rossi told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica at the time. "I've never used banned substances, and especially not now," explaining that she has been breastfeeding her child, of whom Riccò is the father, since last July.
Riccò had also tested positive for CERA during the 2008 Tour de France when the substance was thought to be undetectable. With his suspension set to end just before the 2010 edition of Milan-Sanremo, he was expecting to compete in the race with his new Ceramica Flaminia team.
Earlier this week RCS Sport overlooked the Italian team for a start in the season's first Classic leaving Riccò stunned. He has now decided to distance himself from Rossi as much as possible, saying to Tuttobiciweb, "I am disappointed with my girlfriend," he explained, "and there can be no reconciliation until Vania can prove she is innocent of the allegations that were raised."
The Italian has denied any involvement with Rossi's situation telling the La Gazzetta dello Sport at the beginning of the month, "I do not know what happened, I have been away from home for three months, but now everyone will add two and two together, and I will again be considered guilty," he reasoned, expecting the finger to be pointed at him.
At the time he sided with Rossi saying, "I don't think she lied. At least I hope not, especially since she is breastfeeding our baby." He also explained that he wasn't happy with her involvement in racing adding that, "Cycling is not for women, it is too hard."
According to an expert quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport the ingestion of CERA by a mother when she is breastfeeding is a serious matter because the drug would pass through the milk to the child.
Riccò has also said he would like to race in the Giro d'Italia this coming May. He finished second in the race and won the best young rider classification the year he was caught cheating.