Italian to face questions over near-fatal alleged blood transfusion; could face life ban
Disgraced Italian rider Riccardo Riccò has been called to appear before the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) at 10:30am on April 1st, in relation to the alleged botched blood transfusion that almost killed him last month. The rider, who was immediately fired by Dutch team Vacansoleil-DCM, faces a life ban from the sport, according to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, although he has already declared that he has no desire to return.
If proven that Riccò did self-transfuse it will be the second doping offence that he has been convicted for and, under the WADA code, a life ban should be applied to a second offence.
Riccò returned from his previous ban – a shortened sentence for a positive test for CERA, the third-generation EPO, at the 2008 Tour de France – in March last year, an apparently reformed character. He declared himself clean, and even started working with renowned anti-doper Aldo Sassi at the Mapei sports centre (Sassi died of cancer in December, but saw Riccò as his last big challenge), but many in the sport had their doubts that an apparently blatant doper could reform.
He initially signed for Italian ProContinental team Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce but transferred to Vacansoleil in September as part of the Dutch team’s bid to achieve an invitation to the Vuelta a España.
On February 6th he was rushed to hospital in Pavullo, near his home, apparently suffering from kidney failure; there he allegedly admitted to medical staff that he had self-transfused but the blood had been kept in his fridge for 25 days.
He later denied this admission but was subsequently fired by Vacansoleil-DCM; he later told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he was retiring from the sport, although he later retracted the statement.
Whether he wishes to retire or not though, if he is convicted of a second doping offence it is highly unlikely we will see Riccardo Riccò race again.