Three Spanish riders with the 3 Molinos Resort team were declared unfit to start yesterday's first stage of the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana Calpe, Spain. Rafael Casero and Alberto Benito were found by UCI officials to have haematocrit levels above the permitted maximum of 50 percent, while Antonio Tauler had a too low reticulocyte count.
A haematocrit level above 50 percent is considered suggestive of blood manipulation, but does not constitute proof. Riders are not permitted to race for two weeks after returning a test above 50 percent.
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