SELLA GETS ONE-YEAR BAN FOR CERA POSITIVE

Emanuele Sella Giro 2008 stage 20

Italian climber Emanuele Sella has been banned for just 12 months for a positive test for CERA after co-operating with investigators and naming his suppliers.

27 year-old Sella tested positive for the third generation blood-boosting CERA in July after the UCI did a targeted out of competition test on the former CSF Group-Navigare team rider.

Sella immediately confessed to taking CERA to the Italian anti-doping investigators and named his suppliers, allowing them to start further investigations.

Other riders such as Riccardo Ricco and Bernhard Kohl recently had their requests for reduced suspension turned down. However Sella got a 50% reduction because Italian police have also been able to begin a major investigation into doping in the north of Italy thanks to his confession.

Sella won three stages of the 2008 Giro d'Italia in May, stunning his rivals by attacking early on the hardest mountain stages in the Dolomites and winning back to back stages alone. At the time he claimed he won because he was stronger and more mature but the UCI became suspicious when Sella suddenly pulled out of an Italian race when cases of positive dope tests for CERA first appeared at the Tour de France.

Sella?s ban will end on 18 August 2009.

RELATED LINKS

Sella tests positive for CERA

McQuaid reveals how UCI caught Sella

Sella wins first Giro d'Italia mountain stage

Sella strikes again at Giro d'italia

Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.