Garzelli awaits Tuesday test result

The fate of Mapei's Stefano Garzelli, who failed a dope test while leading the Giro d'Italia last week, will be known Tuesday when tests are carried out on the B-sample provided by the rider, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced Monday. In the case of a positive -- or "non-negatiive" -- result Garzelli, the 2000 Giro champion, will be thrown out of the Giro in conformity with UCI rules. The Mapei team leader has already vowed that he would retire from the sport if a second B-sample provided a positive result. Garzelli tested positive for the diuretic Probenecid, which has

Published May 20, 2002 01:00AM

By VeloNews Interactive wire services, Copyright AFP2002

The fate of Mapei’s Stefano Garzelli, who failed a dope test while leading the Giro d’Italia last week, will be known Tuesday when tests are carried out on the B-sample provided by the rider, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced Monday.

In the case of a positive — or “non-negatiive” — result Garzelli, the 2000 Giro champion, will be thrown out of the Giro in conformity with UCI rules.

The Mapei team leader has already vowed that he would retire from the sport if a second B-sample provided a positive result.

Garzelli tested positive for the diuretic Probenecid, which has drug-masking qualities, after winning the second stage at Ans, Belgium on May 13. He was leading the race after winning the fifth stage when the result came through on Saturday.

The Mapei team said that two of their experts will assist at the test.

The B-samples of two other riders Italian Roberto Sgambelluri, of the Mercatone Uno team, and Russian Faat Zakirov, of Panaria, who returned positive tests for the new endurance-boosting drug Darbepoetin, or Nesp, will take place on Wednesday, the UCI added. Sgambelluri remains in the race awaiting the outcome of the B-sample test, while Zakirov withdrew upon learning of the positive.

Add Velo as a preferred source on GoogleAdd