Clean bill of health

UCI doctors: All blood tests negative

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Posted: Sunday July 19, 1998 05:00 PM

MONTAUBAN, France (CNN/SI) -- The International Cycling Union's (UCI) doctors announced Sunday that the 53 riders from six teams who had been tested for signs of doping prior to the start of the eighth stage of the Tour de France were negative.

The UCI introduced blood tests last year to protect riders against the effects of the banned hormone erythropoietin (EPO) which enhances oxygen in the blood. Any rider found with a level of hematocrit superior to 50 percent is suspended for 15 days.

Doctors from the 20 teams remaining in the Tour de France protested in a statement over remarks in the press questioning their competence and honesty.

They pointed out that they had pressed for "preventive blood testing to be put into place."

"Moreover, from next season, a personal health card for riders will be created which will improve prevention thanks to checks of the biological and functional parameters of cyclists," they said.

Festina's team doctor Eric Ryckaert has been placed under investigation by a Lille judge on charges of providing doping substances to riders. The Festina team was expelled from the tour Friday evening.

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Reuters contributed to this report.