The French Cycling Federation (FFC) have revealed that veteran rider Pascal Herve, who tested positive for banned substances during this year's Tour of Italy, could be at the starting line for this Sunday's French cycling championship. The 36-year-old has the right to compete if medical tests carried out on the Alexia rider since the Giro d'Italia conform to the norm.
Herve was excluded from the drug-tainted Giro earlier this month after he tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug erythropoietin (EPO). However, the B sample that the rider has a right to demand has not yet been carried out because of delays in the current procedure.
Herve, a former Festina rider, was picked at random from the peloton by International Cycling Union (UCI) officials who tested the first seven race leaders and a number of riders at random.
Filed by Shane Murray
