The UCI is allowing Riccardo Ricco to make his return to competition next year on March 18th. Ricco, nicknamed “the Cobra” for his deadly attacks, will make his comeback after a 20 month doping suspension for failing two doping tests during the Tour de France in 2008.
This means that Ricco, 26, will be able to join his new team, Italy’s Ceramica Flaminia – Bossini Docce, on March 20th in the first Classic of the season Milan-San Remo.
Ricco was originally handed a two year suspension but his sentence was reduced by the UCI and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after he agreed to cooperate with the Italian Olympic Committee in the fight against doping.
His case is part of a concerted effort that has seen the sport of cycling work to clean up its act. Targeted testing that followed the introduction of the UCI’s Biological Passport program has made it difficult for cheaters to get away with their activities.
Not only are methods of detecting doping products improving, but the fact that more cyclists are speaking out after being caught has made doping an even riskier proposition than ever before. Many samples are now being frozen so they can again be scrutinized as new tests are developed.