Cycling News Flash for September 2, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones

Casagrande and Golbano unfit for Vuelta

Italian cyclist Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) and Spaniard Carlos Román Golbano (Costa de Almería-Paternina) have been declared unfit to start the Vuelta a España, after blood tests on Wednesday evening revealed that they each had exceeded the hematocrit limit. Both riders will be suspended for 15 days and then will have to undergo another health check before recovering their licences.

Casagrande was due to be Lampre's leader for the Vuelta, while Golbano was in good form during the Tour of Portugal and was looking to do well in the Vuelta.

The health tests are more stringent this year with the introduction of the "on/off model" developed in Australia, which can detect abnormalities in the blood for several weeks after artificial manipulation. Riders who fail health checks are subsequently tested more often, and there have been several positive tests this year as a result of these "targeted controls".

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