Piepoli, Ricco Sacked by Team Over Doping

It was announced on Thursday that Ricco tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO on the fourth stage of this year`s Tour de France.

Italians Leonardo Piepoli and Riccardo Ricco were kicked out of the Saunier Duval cycling team on doping grounds, the team said on Friday.

"(Team manager) Mauro Gianetti has lost faith in them and he decided to fire them from the team," David Garcia, a spokesman for Saunier Duval, told Reuters.

It was announced on Thursday that Ricco tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO on the fourth stage of this year's Tour de France. Piepoli and the rest of the team were subsequently withdrawn.

"(Gianetti) did a personal investigation and consequently lost faith in Ricco but also in Piepoli because of a violation of the team's ethics code," Saunier Duval said in a statement.

"As a result, Mauro Gianetti immediately fired these two riders."

Ricco is to be presented before an investigating judge later on Friday.

"He will be heard by investigating judge Elyse Yamani in a moment," state prosecutor Antoine Leroy told a press conference in Foix.

"It could last a few hours."

Under recent French legislation, Ricco is criminally liable for possession and use of drugs and faces a maximum two years in prison as well as a 3,750 Euro ($5,943) fine.