Liquigas rider Franco Pellizotti suspended for doping irregularities....out of the Giro....up to 8 riders to be named in doping scandal. Updated 4/5/2010....two more riders named.

.............2 more riders named..........
..............."The UCI has confirmed it has requested disciplinary proceedings to be opened against Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas-Doimo), Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucia-Cajasur) and Tadej Valjavec (Ag2r-La Mondiale) for apparent violation of the Anti-Doping Rules on the basis of the information provided by the blood profiles in their biological passports"............

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News outlets are reporting that the UCI Bio passport has snared another big name rider.

Liquigas rider Franco Pellizotti has been suspended due to irregularities in his biological passport.
Pellizotti was to ride the Giro d’Italia, which starts on saturday night (aest ) and was one of the big favourites for the race.

Suspicions were raised during last year's Tour de France where pellizotti won the polkerdot jersey awarded to the king of the mountains. He reportedly returned peculiar blood values, and he has been monitored since then. Pellizotti also finished the 2009 Giro in third place.
Pellizotti was informed two months ago.

There could a little as 4 and possibly 8 other suspensions to be announced in the coming days.
These could include a Russian, two Spaniards, a Slovenian and another Italian. Gazzetta dello Sport suggests the names will be revealed today (Monday) because the Giro d'Italia organisers RCS Sport has to make a final decision on the teams and riders it confirms for this year's race which begins in Amsterdam next Saturday.
Last year, five riders were identified as having manipulated their blood, namely Spain's Igor Astarloa, Ruben Lobato and Ricardo Serrano and Italy's Pietro Caucchioli and Francesco De Bonis.