Cycling-Argentina's Richeze out of Giro after failing dope test

Friday, May. 9, 2008; 1:27 PM

PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - Argentina's Max Richeze has failed a dope test and will not start the Giro d'Italia, his CSF Group team manager Bruno Reverberi said on Friday.

"I've been told by the International Cycling Union that traces of the same steroid Ben Johnson was caught for, I think it's called stanazol, were found in a urine sample given by Max Richeze after he won the last stage of the Sarthe race (in France)," Reverberi told reporters on the eve of the Giro.

"I'm really sorry that it has happened just before the start of the Giro d'Italia because we try and run a clean team.

"Richeze has already been sent home and now it's up to him to ask for the counter-analysis. Because it has happened so close to the start of the Giro d'Italia it means we will start the Giro with just eight riders."

The test was carried out in France on April 11, Reverberi said.

A total of 197 riders will now line up for the opening team time-trial stage of the Giro in Palermo on Saturday.

Canadian sprinter Johnson tested positive for steroids after winning the 100 metres final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was banned from athletics.

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