Doping syringe

French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) director Pierre Bordry has revealed that urine samples taken during the 2008 Tour de France will be retested in search of CERA.

Bordry told the Reuters news agency that the tests for CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator) will be carried out in September.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the tests concern 15 riders who finished in the top 20 overall.

“Before this year’s Tour start in Monaco, we warned some 15 riders that in conformity with the world anti-doping code we would analyse retrospectively samples taken on the 2008 Tour,” Bordry told Reuters without naming the riders.

“Our decision is based on a number of indications we obtained from various sources,” Bordry added, confirming that that AFLD had no access to UCI biological passport information from 2008.

So far no positive drugs test has been announced during this year’s Tour de France. CERA was first detected on the 2008 Tour in samples belonging to Italy’s Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli. Germany’s Stefan Schumacher and Austrian Bernhard Kohl, also resulted positive after retesting.

Italy’s Davide Rebellin also failed a test for CERA at the Beijing Olympics and Italian climber Emanuele Sella was caught for using the blood-boosting drug last summer after being targeted by the UCI.

Italian police in Padua investigating doping are believed to be retesting up to 80 samples from the 2008 Giro d’Italia before a test for CERA was revealed by the French.

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage 20: Contador's Tour lead safe; Wiggins retains fourth overall on Ventoux

Stage 19: Five star Cavendish wins Tour stage in to Aubenas

Stage 18: Contador tightens grip on the maillot jaune

Stage 17: Schleck brothers overhaul Wiggins as Frank wins the stage

Stage 16: Astarloza snatches Alps stage win as contenders wind up the pace

Stage 15: Contador wins in Verbier as Tour explodes into life

Stage 14: Ivanov wins as Nocentini clings onto yellow

Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar

Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green

Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record

Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire

stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage20 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 19 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 18 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Team presentation by Andy Jones

Team presentation by Graham Watson

TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 - the hub

Tour de France 2009: Who's riding

Tour de France 2009: Team guide

About the Tour de France

FEATURES

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Cycling Weekly's rider profiles

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