Ricco admits to drug use

2008-07-30 15:07

Rome - Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco says he has made a mistake and is ready to suffer the consequences after testing positive for the blood booster EPO during the Tour de France.

Ricco spoke on Wednesday after a hearing before the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor. Ricco says that "the mistake is only mine" and that he wanted to relieve himself of a "huge burden."

The 24-year-old Ricco won two Tour stages this year. He was the runner-up in the Giro d'Italia and was the biggest name involved in doping cases at this year's Tour.

- AFP