Bertagnolli charged with doping

Paris - Italy's Leonardo Bertagnolli is facing charges of doping as a result of abnormal readouts on his biological passport, cycling's governing body the UCI announced on Wednesday.

Bertagnolli is the ninth rider to faces charges triggered by the UCI's biological passport programme which tests, charts and then compares the blood and urine values of athletes over time.

Bertagnolli, 34, rides for the Lampre team but has not been selected by them to compete in the Tour de France which starts on Saturday.