Paris - Disgraced Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco has vowed to quit cycling after being sacked by his Vacansoleil team following reports he tried to give himself a blood transfusion.
Last month Italian press cited an unnamed doctor who claimed that Ricco had fallen ill after carrying out a transfusion of his own blood from a three-week-old sample at his home which he feared had gone off.
Speaking to Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport, Ricco claimed he is done with professional cycling.
"I don't want to race any more, no chance. I've turned the page, I'm fed up with the cycling world, it makes me want to vomit," he said.
"I'm fed up with everyone in cycling. They already wanted me to stop when I came back but now enough's enough, Ricco is no more."
Ricco, who won two stages at the 2008 Tour de France only to be thrown off the race after a positive test for Cera EPO (erythropoietin), had only returned from the consequent 20-month ban last March and now faces investigations by both the Italian Olympic Committee and the Modena prosecutor.
Despite the doctor's reports that Ricco had told him he'd given himself a transfusion - which amounts to banned blood doping - the 27-year-old seemed to claim he was innocent.
"It's not a case of doping, I haven't tested positive but I've already been convicted," he added before disputing the doctor's version of events.
"I haven't seen any documents, all I have is a medical certificate and there's nothing on it, only made up phrases.
"He (the doctor) says this, I say something else. I was a bit out of it and I don't know what I might have said (at the time).
"We'll see from the tests who's telling the truth."
Ricco's own father Rubinho had claimed his son could have been suffering from kidney problems when he was in hospital but Ricco says he's fine.
"I don't have health problems. I'm well and I still ride my bike. They told me I'd be as good as before," added Ricco.
"I'm not demoralised, the important thing is to have a clear conscience. I don't miss cycling.
"I'll work in a bar, I've always liked that idea. I want to start working like everyone else.
"I have a family and a son. I'm tired and I don't like this world any more. I'd prefer to work in a factory for 1 000 euros (a month), there's less to think about."
If found guilty of a second doping offence Ricco would risk a life ban.
Last month Italian press cited an unnamed doctor who claimed that Ricco had fallen ill after carrying out a transfusion of his own blood from a three-week-old sample at his home which he feared had gone off.
Speaking to Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport, Ricco claimed he is done with professional cycling.
"I don't want to race any more, no chance. I've turned the page, I'm fed up with the cycling world, it makes me want to vomit," he said.
"I'm fed up with everyone in cycling. They already wanted me to stop when I came back but now enough's enough, Ricco is no more."
Ricco, who won two stages at the 2008 Tour de France only to be thrown off the race after a positive test for Cera EPO (erythropoietin), had only returned from the consequent 20-month ban last March and now faces investigations by both the Italian Olympic Committee and the Modena prosecutor.
Despite the doctor's reports that Ricco had told him he'd given himself a transfusion - which amounts to banned blood doping - the 27-year-old seemed to claim he was innocent.
"It's not a case of doping, I haven't tested positive but I've already been convicted," he added before disputing the doctor's version of events.
"I haven't seen any documents, all I have is a medical certificate and there's nothing on it, only made up phrases.
"He (the doctor) says this, I say something else. I was a bit out of it and I don't know what I might have said (at the time).
"We'll see from the tests who's telling the truth."
Ricco's own father Rubinho had claimed his son could have been suffering from kidney problems when he was in hospital but Ricco says he's fine.
"I don't have health problems. I'm well and I still ride my bike. They told me I'd be as good as before," added Ricco.
"I'm not demoralised, the important thing is to have a clear conscience. I don't miss cycling.
"I'll work in a bar, I've always liked that idea. I want to start working like everyone else.
"I have a family and a son. I'm tired and I don't like this world any more. I'd prefer to work in a factory for 1 000 euros (a month), there's less to think about."
If found guilty of a second doping offence Ricco would risk a life ban.