Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Bernhard Kohl of Gerolsteiner tested non-negative for CERA, French sports paper L'Equipe reported Monday. The French anti-doping agency AFLD had tested Kohl's blood samples. Kohl finished third in the Tour de France this summer and won the climber's jersey.
Kohl was one of the riders whose samples from the Tour de France were re-tested specifically for EPO CERA. Last week, his teammate Stefan Schumacher had tested positive for the same substance.
A few days ago, Gerolsteiner manager Hans-Michael Holczer described on German TV how he told the team about the new test. "Everybody except Stefan [Schumacher] started cheering. It was explained to me that it was something with his girlfriend." Whether Kohl was also cheering is currently unknown.
The B-sample analysis is still outstanding. Should it confirm the result, Kohl will face a two-year suspension and the possibility of losing his Tour de France results.
In addition to Schumacher, Kohl joins Italians Riccardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli (both of Saunier Duval) in testing positive for CERA.
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