The analysis of a urine sample taken from Team Phonak rider Oscar Camenzind during training on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>July 22, 2004 showed traces of EPO. The 33-year old Swiss citizen from central
Switzerland was notified of this earlier today in a letter from Swiss Olympic. Camenzind accepts full responsibility for the incident and does not put any blame on the Phonak Hearing Systems team. ?The team has nothing to do with this incident,? Camenzind commented in a Team Phonak press release.

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As a result of the positive urine sample, Camenzind is being released by his employer with immediate effect. The Phonak cycling team has a clear policy with regard to illegal substances. ?Any rider who is tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in a race or in training, or who has such substances on his person, [will face] immediate dismissal,? is what team manager Urs Freuler had to say. Urs Freuler regrets this incident deeply for personal and sporting reasons. As a result of the results of the test, Camenzind, who waived his right to a B test, will not be taking part in the Olympics either.