Austrian cyclist snared for CERA use

Austrian Bernhard Kohl, who finished third in this year’s Tour de France, has become the latest cyclist to test positive for CERA.

The 26-year-old’s sample was found to contain the new generation of the banned blood booster EPO both before and during the Tour after re-tests at a laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry, France’s national anti-doping agency (AFLD) confirmed tonight.

As well as claiming a place on the podium, the Gerolsteiner rider also won the Polka Dot jersey as the best climber on this year’s Tour.

An AFLD statement read: “The AFLD confirms that its laboratory at Chatenay-Malabry has found two abnormal samples showing the presence of EPO CERA in blood tests done on 3 and 15 July, before and during the Tour de France, on Austrian cyclist Bernard Kohl.”

Italians Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, plus Germany’s Stefan Schumacher, have already tested positive for CERA.