CERA files IV

Pic courtesy of Gerolsteiner website www.gerolsteiner.de


The Independent has it HERE.

After the former Suanier Duval's Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, the Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher recently, now Berhard Kohl, the king of the mountains in this year's Tour de France, who went on the podium twice for also finishing third in the Tour, has been busted for Cera.

French anti-doping agency say they were from secondary tests of samples taken prior to and during the Tour.

I must say, the fight is catching up on Cera. And I must say, there's something to be learned from these French efforts. Cera was earlier said to have probably been in use as early as the start of this season. So, tests getting up to pace and able to trace the substance now, should seem like a good thing.

UPDATE!

Cyclingnews.com reports HERE the confirmation of Kohl's positive as it's lead story today, while his Gerolsteiner team has skipped the Giro di Lombardia, bringing a premature end to it's already sealed fate. Gerolsteiner was initially due to pull the plug at the end of this season. Manager and owner Hans-Michael Holczer has also quit cycling.

Of my interest in this affair is the fate of our friend and compatriot, former national cyclist M. Rajan (often refered to as M. Kumaresan's brother) who has served as mechanic for the Gerolsteiner team the past decade. It is just unfortunate that Rajan suffers the adverse effects and consequences of doping, as he has lost his livelihood with the folding of Gerolsteiner.
Given his experience and knowledge in the field at the highest level, I think Rajan would be very much suited to becoming national team manager or serving the national programme at some level. Funny, but knowing certain people in MNCF, I find it hard to believe that this would be a possibility.


UPDATE 2!!

Bernhard Kohl has now also lost his contract with Belgian team Silence-Lotto, for whom he recently signed to ride from next season through 2011. AP has the report HERE.