The 2008 Tour de France is just full of Dope now

Because doping scandals have really been the flavor of this year's Tour.

The 2008 Tour de France was rocked once again by a third positive doping scandal following the news that Italian biker Riccardo Ricco tested positive for banned substances. Surprised? Not us.

Riccardo Ricco, who won two climbing stages already, was taken into custody by French police amid scenes of chaos outside his Saunier Duval team bus before the start of stage 12. Ricco was expelled from the race and detained, leading to his team pulling off from the Tour and pausing all of its activities. His Spanish team initially took to the start line for the 12th stage from here to Narbonne, however, because of Ricco's stupidity, the yellow-clad riders returned to the team bus.

''We've decided to suspend all cycling activities until we find out what has happened,'' team spokesman Matxin Fernandez said. ''Ricco is not just any rider, he's a top rider. So for the sake of our team and the Tour de France we have made this decision. We can't act as though nothing has happened, we have to accept the reality.''

Riccardo Ricco's positive test for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) was confirmed by the French national anti-doping agency (AFLD), which is carrying out all tests on the race as the race is being held under the auspices of the French federation.

The 24-year-old Ricco provided a urine sample that contained the banned substance CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator) after the fourth stage, a 29.5 km time-trial at Cholet.Ricco becomes the third cyclist to be taken in for questioning by French police. Spaniard Moises Duenas of the Barloworld team was also taken into custody after it was revealed he was also tested positive for EPO. Manuel Beltran (yes there's more...) left the race under a cloud for the same exact reasons.British rider David Millar, whose Garmin-Chipotle team is part of a movement to clean up pro cycling, was dismayed beyond belief when informed of the news before stage 12.

''It is amazing to me that someone could be so irresponsible and not have any love for the sport,'' said Millar, an admitted doper who served a two-year ban for drug use from 2004 until 2006. ''(Dopers) have this culture embedded in them that they don't think they can compete without doping. It's sad.''

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Stefan Schumacher

Mark Cavendish

Cadel Evans

Alejandro Valverde

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2008 Tour de France Doping Scandals