Simoni is forced to withdraw

CYCLING/Giro D'Italia: The Giro D'Italia suffered yet another body blow to its already damaged credibility yesterday when last year's winner, Italian rider Gilberto Simoni, was withdrawn from the race following pressure from both rival teams and the race organisers.

Rival teams had objected to Simoni after it was announced on Wednesday that he had tested positive for cocaine subsequent to a spot test carried out on the eve of last month's Giro di Trentino.

Simoni has denied taking any performance enhancing drugs, claiming that the cocaine came from a local anaesthetic given to him while he received urgent dental treatment on the day of the spot test.

Even though Simoni's Saecco team produced medical certificates proving that the rider had indeed received dental treatment on the day in question, rival teams argued that in the best interests of transparency he should not be allowed to continue.

Simoni, winner of Thursday's 11th stage into Campitello Matese, had been one of the obvious race favourites and was third overall when his team withdrew him yesterday morning.

Simoni's withdrawal comes just three days after one time race leader and Giro 2000 winner, Italian Stefano Garzelli, was suspended from the race subsequent to testing positive for the diuretic "Probenecide" after winning the second stage of the race in Liege last week.

Doping controversies, of course, are nothing new on the Giro D'Italia. Last year, more than 100 riders were investigated when police staged a blitz in San Remo just after the race had ridden into town.

The doping scandals have left their mark on this year's race since current race leader, former East German rider, 37-year-old Jens Heppner of the Deutsche Telekom team, owes his hold on the "pink jersey" to Garzelli's deliberate surrender after his involvement in the dope scandal. After Denis Lunghi had won yesterday's 12th stage into Chieti, Heppner remained in the race leader's jersey.

TOUR OF ITALY: (12th stage, campobasso to chieti, 200k) 1: D Lunghi (Ita) 2: B Grabsch (Ger) at 37 sec; 3: P Bernucci (Ita) at 38 sec; 4: A Bertolini (Ita) at 54 sec; 5: M Buxhoffer (Aut). OVERALL: 1: J Heppner (Ger) 2: F Casagrande (Ita) at 2 min 58 sec 3: P Savoldelli (Ita) at 3 min 43 sec 4: P Caucchioli (Ita) at 3 min 46 sec 5: F Escartin (Spa) at 3 min46 sec 13: T Hamilton (USA) at 4 mins 26 sec.