Veteran Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli tested positive for EPO twice at this year's Tour de France, cycling sources said Monday.
Piepoli's use of the new generation of the banned blood booster has been established by a series of tests on samples taken on July 4 and 15, they said.
The 37-year-old was sacked by his team, Saunier Duval, on July 18 for violating its ethical code but there had been no confirmation he used the Mircera drug until Monday.
Last week Piepoli's former team leader Riccardo Ricco' was banned for two years after being ejected from the Tour for Mircera use on July 17.
