Phonak's team manager John Lelangue was not impressed by the news that one of his riders, Fabrizio Guidi, had returned an "A" sample positive for EPO at the HEW Cyclassics on July 31. Although the EPO test has been found to be suspect in certain cases, Guidi's positive still earned him a suspension from the team until the results of his "B" sample are known. Regardless of the outcome, it still puts the team under pressure, as three of its riders already tested positive in the second half of last season for banned substances or methods.
In the wake of the cases involving Oscar Camenzind (EPO), Tyler Hamilton and Santiago Perez (homologous blood transfusions), Phonak was ejected from the ProTour before it had even started. Only by firing several riders, team staff, and doctors, was the team allowed back in by the UCI. Thus for the new team manager John Lelangue, Guidi's "A" positive was the last thing he wanted to hear.
