News for May 9, 1997

Chiappucci fails blood test, out of Tour

His licence has been suspended for 15 days when he will be re-tested, the Swiss news agency ATS reported.

The suspension means Chiappucci, nicknamed El Diablo (the Devil), will miss the Giro d'Italia.

International Cycling Union (UCI) officials tested Chiappucci and several other riders before the 173-km second stage from Le Locle to Estavayer-le-lac, ATS said.

Blood tests were introduced in January to help combat the use of EPO (erythropoietin) and injectable blood-doping substances that simulate altitude training by increasing the number of oxygen-rich red blood cells.

If tests show a rider's level is above 50 percent he is automatically suspended.

Chiappucci was the fourth rider to fail blood tests this season.

Italians Mauro Santaromita, Luca Colombo and Frenchman Erwan Mentheour were the first casualties of the anti-doping procedures when tests before the second stage of the Paris-Nice in March found their red blood cell counts to be above set limits.

Riders must be re-tested at an UCI-sanctioned lab and their red blood cell count be back to normal before they are allowed to race again.

Davide Boifava, manager of the Asics team for whom Chiappucci rides, was quoted as saying he was shocked by the outcome of the test.

He said the team had carried out a blood test on Chiappucci on Wednesday night which was normal.

``We do not know how to explain the difference of the results done just a few hours apart. There is something very strange about this result.''

He said Chiappucci was not even planning to start Thursday's second stage because of a problem with his arm.

Chiappucci revels in his nickname El Diablo but the last time he gave hell to his rivals was in the 1992 Tour de France.

Then an inspired solo through the Alps to the Italian resort of Sestriere had even the mighty Miguel Indurain in trouble.

He won the best mountain-climber award for the second consecutive year and finished second overall.

The big honour always eluded him but Chiappucci's consolations included the mountains prize in three Giros and winning the 1991 Milan-San Remo classic.