The UCI's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mario Zorzoli indicated that the riders in the 90th Giro d'Italia may be subjected to doping controls at any time - even at night. Riders have historically been visited early in the morning for blood samples which are tested to ensure their hematocrit is within acceptable values, and they are subjected to urine controls after the race, however surprise mid-night visits are new. "Tests are usually done early in the morning, but riders can now expect surprise tests in the evening and even during the night," Zorzoli said according to Reuters.
The move comes after several riders were removed from their teams rosters prior to the start of the Giro, the most famous being Ivan Basso, who confessed to his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping affair.
