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German federation confirms Schumacher doping results
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-09 11:25

BERLIN: The German cycling federation (BDR) began an investigation on Tuesday into two positive doping tests for the blood-boosting drug EPO by rider Stefan Schumacher at this year's Tour de France.

Gerolsteiner team rider Stefan Schumacher of Germany celebrates on the podium after winning the individual time trial 20th stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Cerilly and Saint-Amand Montrond July 26, 2008.  [Agencies]

The governing body said it had received confirmation of the test results from Germany's national anti-doping agency and had asked Schumacher to provide a written response or request a B-test within five working days.

In the statement on its website the German federation added that disciplinary proceedings could begin once it had received Schumacher's response or the B-sample results.

It was announced on Monday that Schumacher and Italian Leonardo Piepoli had tested positive on the 2008 Tour for CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), which is a new generation of EPO.

The positive tests are the result of France's national anti-doping agency (AFLD) retroactively testing blood samples from riders on the Tour to detect the new type of EPO.

The AFLD has developed a more effective blood test to find CERA, which had been difficult to detect through urine samples.

Earlier on Tuesday, BDR officials said they would seek a minimum two-year ban for Schumacher and warned of permanent exclusion from the federation if the rider did not assist fully with its investigations.

"It is a shock, but it is also good news," said BDR president Rudolf Scharping. "The ever tighter net of the anti-doping investigators is making sure that practically no-one is getting through anymore."

The German sports agency SID said on Monday that Schumacher had denied doping and described the allegations against him as "complete nonsense".

The 27-year-old cyclist won both time trials on this year's Tour de France and wore the leader's yellow jersey for two days.

His other successes included overall victories on the 2006 Tours of Poland and Benelux and a road race bronze medal at the 2007 world championships in Stuttgart.