Doping cheat done in by molecular marker

Riccardo Ricco was caught doping at the Tour de France because the banned stamina-building substance he'd taken was made more easily traceable by drugmaker Roche Holding AG, the World Anti-Doping Agency's top official said.

Ricco, 24, won two stages before he was ejected last week after testing positive for erythropoietin, or EPO. The Saunier Duval-Scott team fired the Italian and withdrew from the race.

Roche planted a molecule in its red-cell boosting product CERA, or Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator, during its manufacture to help anti-doping authorities detect its illegal use, WADA President John Fahey said today in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"In the development of that particular substance, close cooperation occurred between WADA and the pharmaceutical company so that there was in fact a molecule placed in the substance well in advance," Fahey said. The modified version "was always going to be able to be detected once a test was undertaken."

Ricco, one of three riders to test positive for EPO at this year's Tour de France, has denied using CERA, which was developed to help boost oxygen levels in anemia sufferers. It's considered a performance-enhancer by WADA.

"Roche is aware that a leading competitor in the Tour de France is reported to have tested positive for Mircera, Roche's new erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) approved a year ago in the European Union," the Basel-based company, Switzerland's biggest drugmaker, said in a statement. "Roche has worked in collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2004 to assist in their aim of controlling the illegal use of ESAs and specifically Mircera.

"Roche has provided the information to WADA and to a WADA-accredited laboratory to detect its new ESA. We are pleased that this collaboration has been productive."

Spanish riders Manuel Beltran of Liquigas and Barloworld's Moises Duenas also tested positive for EPO at this month's Tour de France, their teams said.

Collaboration between sports authorities and drugmakers was the way forward in detecting doping cheats, said Fahey, who took over from Dick Pound as WADA President on Jan. 1.

"The more cooperation the scientists can have with the drug companies in the detection of performance-enhancing drugs the greater the likelihood is they will be detected when tests are undertaken," Fahey said.

Saunier Duval today withdrew its sponsorship of cycling immediately, French newspaper L'Equipe reported on its Web site.

Company President Thierry Leroy told the newspaper he felt "disappointment and anger" after the announcement that Ricco tesed positive. An e-mail to the company seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.