French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) director Pierre Bordry has revealed that urine samples taken during the 2008 Tour de France will be retested in search of CERA.
Bordry told the Reuters news agency that the tests for CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator) will be carried out in September.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the tests concern 15 riders who finished in the top 20 overall.
“Before this year’s Tour start in Monaco, we warned some 15 riders that in conformity with the world anti-doping code we would analyse retrospectively samples taken on the 2008 Tour,” Bordry told Reuters without naming the riders.
“Our decision is based on a number of indications we obtained from various sources,” Bordry added, confirming that that AFLD had no access to UCI biological passport information from 2008.
So far no positive drugs test has been announced during this year’s Tour de France. CERA was first detected on the 2008 Tour in samples belonging to Italy’s Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli. Germany’s Stefan Schumacher and Austrian Bernhard Kohl, also resulted positive after retesting.
Italy’s Davide Rebellin also failed a test for CERA at the Beijing Olympics and Italian climber Emanuele Sella was caught for using the blood-boosting drug last summer after being targeted by the UCI.
Italian police in Padua investigating doping are believed to be retesting up to 80 samples from the 2008 Giro d’Italia before a test for CERA was revealed by the French.
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage 20: Contador's Tour lead safe; Wiggins retains fourth overall on Ventoux
Stage 19: Five star Cavendish wins Tour stage in to Aubenas
Stage 18: Contador tightens grip on the maillot jaune
Stage 17: Schleck brothers overhaul Wiggins as Frank wins the stage
Stage 16: Astarloza snatches Alps stage win as contenders wind up the pace
Stage 15: Contador wins in Verbier as Tour explodes into life
Stage 14: Ivanov wins as Nocentini clings onto yellow
Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar
Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green
Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record
Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win
Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire
stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out
Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance
Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs
Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
LATEST TOUR NEWS
Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
Armstrong admits he suffered in Tour's final time trial
Wiggins set for Ventoux showdown at the Tour
Radio Shack confirmed as Armstrong's new backer
Astana to split after Tour
Voigt crashes out of Tour
Armstrong fighting hard for Tour podium place
Wiggins gets closer to Tour podium place
Who's won what so far in the Tour de France
How the Tour favourite are doing (Rest day 2)
Wiggins climbs to third in Tour overall
Armstrong concedes he can't win the 2009 Tour
Tom Boonen quits the Tour de France
Stage 15 analysis: Is the Tour now over?
Columbia criticise Garmin for chasing Hincapie
Cavendish reveals he is going for green
EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Mont Ventoux preview
Garmin-Slipstream's HQ before the Tour
David Zabriskie's time trial bike
Mark Cavendish on the Tour's team time trial
David Brailsford interview
Mark Cavendish on the Tour
Jonathan Vaughters on Bradley Wiggins' chances
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
Stage20 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 19 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 18 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Andy Jones
Team presentation by Graham Watson
TOUR GUIDE
Tour de France 2009 - the hub
Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
Tour de France 2009: Team guide
About the Tour de France
FEATURES
Tour de France 2009: Who will win?
Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules
Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France
Tour de France anti-doping measures explained
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Cycling Weekly's rider profiles
TWITTER
Follow the Tour on Cycling Weekly's Twitter feed
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
A phone app saved my life after a crash, you shouldn't ride anywhere remote without it
