News for March 28

Italy opens Milan-San Remo race doping inquiry

MILAN (Mar 26, 1996 - 15:09 EST) - The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI)
said on Tuesday it had opened an inquiry into doping controls at last
weekend's Milan-San Remo classic after equipment was tampered with.

The doping controls at the race were cancelled after officials discovered
that the package containing the materials for taking urine samples had
already been opened. None of the riders was asked for a urine sample.

The FCI said in a statement that the anti-doping controls at Saturday's
race, the first classic of the season, were under the direct supervision of
the International Cycling Union (UCI) who appointed the inspector to carry
out the tests.

The first, second and fifth-placed riders would have been due to be tested
with four others taken at random.

Gabriele Colombo of Italy won, ahead of Alexandre Gontchenkov of Ukraine.
Italian Stefano Zanini, a team mate of Colombo, finished fifth.