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Two riders 'rested' over low biological readings

Le Pont-de-Claix - Italian Enrico Gasparotto and his German teammate Bjorn Thurau were provisionally rested by their Wanty team on Sunday due to anomalies in their biological passports.

Both riders were due to take part in Sunday's final stage of the Criterium du Dauphine in the south east of France.

Although neither has failed a drug test, they recorded low levels of cortisol in procedures carried out by the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC).

Wanty are members of the MPCC and by the group's strict rules, if riders record suspect readings in their biological passports, they must be rested until the levels return to normal.

Low levels of cortisol can indicate the use of a corticoid medication, but does not necessarily mean a doping offence has taken place.

Gasparotto, who won the prestigious Amstel Gold Race in April, and Thurau must now stay away from racing for at least a week, and can only return once their cortisol levels have normalised.

While the pair were free to continue racing under International Cycling Union (UCI) rules, the MPCC operates stricter anti-doping guidelines.

Teams signed up to the MPCC do so voluntarily.

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