Italian pro cyclist banned for one year after positive CERA EPO test

Pro cyclist Emanuele Sella joins 'Pro-cyclists Banned for CERA EPO Use' club, when the Italian sports authority handed down a one year ban.  The cyclist caught a break when he cooperated with the Italian court. To the Sydney Morning Herald

Emanuele Sella is the latest cyclist to be found guilty of using CERA, the third generation EPO drug, it was reported.

The Societa CSF Gruppo Navigare rider has been banned for one year by the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping office after being caught in an out-of-competition test taken on July 23.

A one-year ban was handed down, instead of two, after the rider admitted his guilt and co-operated with the court during his trial in August, ANSA news agency reported.

Sella was the surprise package of the 2008 Giro d'Italia, winning three climbing stages and the time trial at Plan de Corones.

However, he is the latest rider to fail a test for CERA, which has also snared Tour de France third Bernard Kohl and Riccardo Ricco, Leonardo Piepoli and Stefan Schumacher.

In September, Tour de France officials announced they would be retesting samples for CERA, with the International Olympic Committee following suit in October.