Scott-American Beef excluded from race

MADRID, Spain (AP) — The Scott-American Beef cycling team won't be invited to the Spanish Vuelta following a doping scandal at the Tour de France.

The team, formerly known as Saunier-Duval, changed sponsors after Riccardo Ricco tested positive for the blood-booster EPO during the Tour. Vuelta organizers said Thursday that Scott-American Beef is not welcome at the race, but didn't specify its reasons for excluding the team.

The team withdrew from the Tour and was banned from all competition by the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping tribunal. Ricco was fired. A second rider, Leonardo Piepoli, also was fired.