Bosisio tests positive for EPO
UPDATED - UCI confirms positive test conducted after Italian returned suspicious blood profile
The International Cycling Union (UCI) today confirmed that Italian Gabriele Bosisio (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) has tested positive for blood booster Erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition control. The UCI announced that Bosisio had been provisionally suspended after he returned a positive result from a test conducted on September 2 at his home in Rogeno, Italy.
The UCI said that the September 2 urine test had been carried out after irregularities were detected in Bosisio's blood profile. "This adverse finding was a direct result of a targeted urine test, conducted immediately after a blood test triggered an unusual blood profile within the biological passport programme," said the UCI in a statement.
The provisional suspension will remain in force until the Italian Cycling Federation makes a ruling on whether or not Bosisio has violated the UCI's anti-doping laws.
Bosisio may request counter-analysis of UCI's test results.
Bosisio won a stage and wore the leader's maglia rosa at last year's Giro d'Italia. In 2007, he won the Olympic test race in Beijing, China.
Bosisio, 29, and Italian Danilo Di Luca are former LPR Brakes teammates. Di Luca finished second overall in this year's Giro d'Italia, but tests later revealed he used third generation EPO, CERA. LPR Brakes dismissed Di Luca in August after counter-analysis confirmed the test results.
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