Riccò names supplier

Former Saunier Duval-Scott rider Riccardo Riccò has named Carlo Santuccione as the supplier of the EPO that he used during the Tour de France, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Riccò who won two stages before being thrown off the race for a doping violation, told that he paid 700 euro for the third generation EPO named CERA.

"I have not paid, naturally," said Riccò. "Santuccione assured me you could not be found positive. So I did not give him the money."

Santuccione is widely known in professional cycling as 'Ali de Chemist' and in the late '90s the former doctor was suspended for his involvement in a doping affair. In 2004 he was also arrested after the prescription of the performance-enhancing drugs anabolic steroids, growth hormone and EPO.

This year the doctor was relieved from his post for life. Santuccione is the former doctor of Danilo Di Luca and former professional Rodolfo Massi, who was discredited during the Festina-Affair in 1998.