Tour de France - Positive Test for Kohl

After recent news reports suggesting doping tests are getting more rigorous and up-to-date, France’s national doping authorities (AFLD) have announced that yet another athlete has tested positive for banned substances.

Bernard Kohl, the Austrian cyclist currently regarded as the best climbed at the tour de France this year, has been found to have a performance enhancing drug in his system as a result of recent doping test.

New tests able to detect Cera (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), a new drug that increases red blood cell count in the blood stream, are now employed to keep up with the advancements in doping amongst athletes

Kohl is the fourth rider to have tested positive for the drug since the AFLD launched the pioneering new test. Retrospective drug testing will shed more light on the extent this drug is being used at the 2008 Tour de France.

Kohl faces some harsh penalties as a result of testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Not only will he have to face the usual disciplinary procedure, but his sponsorship deal looks to be hanging on these results.

Cera is among the list of banned substances with steroids like Testosterone and Dianabol. Only difference is the ability to detect these drugs. Now that the new retrospective testing is available, doping in sports is going to be a much tougher task.