to be found guilty of using CERA, the third generation EPO drug, it
was reported here Tuesday.
The Societa CSF Gruppo Navigare rider has been banned for one
year by the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping office
after being caught in an out-of-competition test taken on July 23.
A one-year ban was handed down, instead of two, after the rider
admitted his guilt and co-operated with the court during his trial
in August, ANSA news agency reported.
[size=150]Sella was the surprise package of the 2008 Giro d'Italia,
winning three climbing stages and the time trial at Plan de
Corones.[/size]
However, he is the latest rider to fail a test for CERA, which
has also snared Tour de France third Bernard Kohl and Riccardo
Ricco, Leonardo Piepoli and Stefan Schumacher.
In September Tour de France officials announced they would be
retesting samples for CERA, with the International Olympic Committee
following suit in October.