Saeco suspend Mazzoleni

Corti says it is a "precaution"

Team Saeco has suspended rider Eddy Mazzoleni after reports allegedly linking him with doping substances.

French newspaper Le Monde published tapped phone conversations between Mazzoleni and Dr Carlo Santuccione.

Saeco manager Claudio Corti said: "We suspended him because the team has always had a strong line in doping."

Corti added that the measure was a "precaution", and that the team was waiting for further details from judicial authorities.

The paper claimed that according to a police report about the transcript, Mazzoleni was "certainly talking about (the banned blood-booster) EPO".

In one phone conversation, Mazzoleni was quoted as saying: "I did 4,000 units for Sunday subcutaneously... and I'm racing Saturday... For Saturday, are there any problems?"

Mazzeloni was one of eight riders who had their hotel rooms raided by police on 26 May during the Giro d'Italia.

He was questioned along with Saeco team-mate Alessandro Spezialetti but no charges were laid and the police said no banned substances were found.