Saunier Duval Pulls Out Of Sponsoring Professional Cycling

By editor on July 23rd, 2008

PARIS, July 23, 2008 (AFP) - Saunier Duval has pulled out of cycling blaming the drug scandal that engulfed its team at the Tour de France.

Saunier Duval acted after its Italian rider Riccardo Ricco failed a dope test on stage four, prompting the elite team to pull out of the race last week.

Both Ricco and his compatriot Leonardo Piepoli, who had won the prestigious Bastille Day stage but had not failed a dope test, were sacked last Friday.

A statement issued by Saunier Duval on Wednesday confirmed: “This decision by the company was taken following the recent case of doping involving one of the team’s cyclists, Riccardo Ricco, and the suspicions against another cyclist.”

Saunier Duval, part of a German company specializing in domestic heaters and air conditioning units, is the second sponsor to turn its back on cycling at this year’s Tour de France.

The first was Barloworld who acted after their rider Moises Duenas tested positive like Ricco for the banned blood booster EPO (erythrpoietin) and also like Ricco on stage four.

Photo by: CorVos Pro