Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco is upset after receiving a two-year ban following a positive test for CERA during the Tour de France.
Lawyers may launch appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport
Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco has expressed his disappointment after being banned from the sport for two years.
The rider won two stages at this year's Tour de France but tested positive for CERA, a third generation version of banned blood-booster EPO, following the fourth stage time-trial.
He was kicked off the Tour and sacked by his Saunier-Duval team, as well as being suspended from riding by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in July.
CONI has now handed out a two-year ban to the 25-year-old, who initially denied the allegations before eventually pleading guilty and naming the doctor who had given him the substance, as well as another rider, in an effort to get a reduced punishment.
But this has not been the case as while the prosecutor's office at CONI recommended he should get a 20-month ban, their anti-doping tribunal decided to hand him a more severe sentence.
Saddened
"I'm very disappointed and saddened," said Ricco as he emerged from the hearing at the Stadio Olimpico.
"I expected more understanding.
"But I made a mistake and it's right that I should pay for it now. But I can't manage to speak and I prefer to leave the rest to my lawyers."
The sentence consists of 18 months for the doping offence and a further six months for visiting Carlo Santuccione, a doctor who was banned for life from the sport for doping violations.
Ricco's lawyers revealed that they will announce within the next 30 days if they are to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Should the sentence stand, the former Saunier Duval rider will only be able to race again after July 30, 2010.
