PARIS, June 17, 2010 (AFP) – Spaniard Ricardo Serrano has been handed a two-year ban by his national federation after he was found guilty of doping based on suspect readings on his biological passport.

The biological passport — which registers and analysis cyclists’ blood parameters continually — is the latest weapon in the International Cycling Union’s fight against drug cheats.

Serrano was one of the first five riders to be snared by the biological passport in June 2009.

In accordance with UCI regulations cycling’s world ruling body asked the national federation to impose a sanction, and the Spanish authorities responded with a two-year ban and 23,100-euro fine.

A UCI statement said: “…. following its request for proceedings against the Spanish rider Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez … the Disciplinary Commission of the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) has decided to sanction the rider with a two-year suspension and 23,100 euro fine.”

It added: “The UCI’s request was based on two elements of evidence collected within the biological passport programme: Mr Serrano’s abnormal hematological profile, and two laboratory reports indicating the detection of CERA in his blood samples collected on May 7, 2009 and June 13, 2009.”

CERA was revealed as the latest generation of the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) when several riders tested positive for the synthetic hormone, which boosts the oxygen-rich red blood cells in the blood, at the
2008 Tour de France.

Like Serrano, Italians Francesco de Bonis and Pietro Caucchioli have been handed two-year bans by the Italian authorities.

The cases of the remaining two cyclists snared in 2009, Spaniards Igor Astarloa and Ruben Lobato, have yet to be resolved.