The International Cycling Union (UCI) has responded in categorical and quite unmistakable fashion to Riccardo Ricco’s twitter claims that a number of unnamed riders tested positive to EPO at the 2008 Tour de France, implying a cover up action by cycling’s governing body. 

Not surprisingly, the UCI vehemently denies the allegations put forward by the former Italian rider who, perhaps tellingly, fails to put forward any evidence to corroborate his accusations.

"Ricco, Stefan Schumacher, Leonardo Piepoli and Bernhard Kohl all returned positive tests at the 2008 Tour," said the UCI press statement. "But Ricco claimed on his Twitter account that more riders had tested positive. This unsubstantiated claim is totally untrue. In the 2008 Tour de France, the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) was solely responsible for carrying out all anti-doping testing. The UCI was not involved in the testing as the 2008 Tour de France was not on the UCI calendar but was organized as a national event.

However, any adverse analytical finding from a test that was carried out during the 2008 Tour de France was reported by the lab directly to AFLD with a copy to UCI and WADA and was seen and reviewed by AFLD, UCI and WADA. It is simply not possible for a positive test to be covered up."

Yesterday Ricco, who is presently serving a record 12-year-ban for his abuse of illicit performance-enhancing substances, continued to declare on his Twitter profile that he is merely telling the truth. The list of 48 positive tests, maintains Ricco, "arrived at his home by mistake". In addition, Ricco also proclaimed that it was "easy to refute my statements…".