Ricardo Ricco was admitted to a hospital following a training ride with his team, Vacansoleil. He’s in guarded condition but maybe getting a little better after having been critical. He suffered a high fever, renal blockage and pulmonary embolism.
He has apparently admitted transfusing his own blood. Italian police have gotten his medical records and are investigating. He supposedly used blood that had been in his refrigerator for nearly a month.
This comes after he just finished serving a 20 month ban for previous doping at the 2008 Tour de France.
Former Fassa Bartolo rider Bernucci has been banned for five years and members of his family have been banned from attending some sporting events in Italy for 3-4 years.
