Saunier rider discuss the events (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Saunier Duval-Scott is unlikely to contest the upcoming Tour of Germany, with the event's organizer planning on leaving out the Spanish team. The ProTour team withdrew from the Tour de France after stage winner Riccardo Ricco tested non-negative for a new type of EPO.
Since Ricco's failed A-sample test results the rider has been sacked, along with fellow stage winner Leonardo Piepoli. The team's manager had said after speaking with Piepoli, who hasn't returned any non-negative samples from the Tour, he didn't feel the rider could be trusted.
"There is absolutely no question of having Saunier Duval on the starting line," German race director Kai Rapp told Suddeutsche Zeitung.
While every ProTour team has the right to start ProTour rounds such as Germany, Rapp believes he has the right to deny the squad a start. Under International Cycling Union (UCI) rules a squad can have its licence withdrawn if it has brought the sport into disrepute.
"In Saunier Duval's case I think they (Saunier Duval) fill that criteria 100 percent," said Rapp.
It's unclear whether fellow ProTour squad Liquigas will receive similar treatment. While the Italian team continues to contest the Tour, it also had a rider test non-negative to EPO on the event's first stage.
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