Italian cyclist says he doped in 'moment of weakness'

ROME - Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli, who tested positive at last year's Tour de France, says he engaged in doping in a `moment of weakness.'

Piepoli, who was caught using an advanced version of the blood-booster EPO, also appealed to other riders not to dope.

It was `a moment of weakness, craziness, irresponsibility,' he said in an interview published Wednesday in Gazzetta dello Sport.

Piepoli failed tests on July 4 and July 15 for CERA during the Tour, according to the Italian Olympic Committee.

The committee's anti-doping prosecutor last month asked for a two-year ban for the cyclist, who won the Tour's 10th stage and has 32 victories overall in his career.

Piepoli called his behaviour `unjustifiable' and urged other cyclists not to dope `because it doesn't work, it's useless, it never worked.'

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