Third Tour de France rider out for doping

Lavelanet, France -- Riccardo Ricco, who won two stages in this year's Tour de France, tested position for a banned substance and he and his team withdrew from the race.

Ricco allegedly tested positive for the blood-booster EPO. He won the sixth and ninth stages in this year's Tour de France and was in ninth place in the overall standings.

His team -- Saunier Duval -- voluntarily withdrew from the race and team leaders said they would not compete in any races until further notice.

Ricco is the third racer to leave the field this year after running into doping allegations. Manuel Beltran left after the first stage after test returned positive for EPO. On Wednesday, Moises Duenas Nevado was detained by French police after he allegedly tested positive for EPO.

Ricco, who was taken off the team bus by police before Thursday's Stage 12, and Duenas Nevado were both tested after the Stage 4 time trial.

Police were questioning the riders about where they obtained EPO, which aids flow of oxygen to the lungs by increasing the number of red blood cells in the human body.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.