Cyclists at Giro to be tested for blood-boosting drug CERA

Cyclists at Giro to be tested for CERA

VENICE, Italy — Riders in the Giro d’Italia will be tested for the advanced blood-boosting drug CERA.

Several cyclists have tested positive for the substance since last year’s Tour de France.

All 198 riders entered in the Giro underwent routine pre-race tests by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday, and there will be 481 more controls — plus surprise tests — during the three-week race that begins Saturday.

Giro director Angelo Zomegnan announced plans for CERA testing on Friday, but did not specify who will carry out the controls. Urine tests for insulin will also be conducted.

“I can only say that our protocol is at the vanguard,” he said.

Test samples will be examined by labs in Rome; Lausanne, Switzerland; and Cologne, Germany.

Riccardo Ricco won two stages during last year’s Giro and finished second overall before testing positive for CERA at the Tour de France.

Zomegnan was asked whether samples from last year’s Giro would be retested for CERA.

“From what I hear, some prosecutor has requested those tests,” Zomegnan said, adding that “organizers are not responsible for test samples.”

Last week, the International Olympic Committee announced six athletes had tested positive for CERA in retroactive tests from the Beijing Olympics. Cyclists Davide Rebellin and Stephan Schumacher were among the offenders.