Italian cyclist Ricco banned for doping

ROME, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Cyclist Riccardo Ricco has been suspended by the Italian National Olympic Committee for two years for using the drug CERA.

He won two stages at this year's Tour de France, but was ejected on July 18 following a positive test for EPO, a blood booster.

The drug CERA was thought to be undetectable in urine, but a test developed prior to the race confirmed its use. Ricco later admitted to using the drug.

His penalty included 18 months for seeing physician Carlos Santuccione, called "Ali the chemist," who already had been banned for life for doping violations from working with athletes.

After the test results, Ricco spent a night in French jail and his Saunier-Duval team withdrew from the Tour.

"I'm very disappointed and bitter," Ricco said in a statement to the BBC in London. "I expected better understanding but I made a mistake and it's fair that I pay."

Ferrer needs three sets, advances in Japan

TOKYO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- No. 1-seeded David Ferrer recovered from a shaky first set Thursday and won a quarterfinals slot at the $869,000 Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

Ferrer, who is the event's defending champion, dropped two service games in the first set but didn't face a break point the rest of the way in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Takao Suzuki in a second-round match.

Second-seeded Andy Roddick blasted 20 aces in a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win over 14th-seeded Jurgen Melzer in his second-round match while No. 3-seeded Fernando Gonzalez topped Amer Delic, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet blew by Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-2, and fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro took out No. 11-seeded Jarkko Nieminen, 6-1, 6-3.

There were several upsets Thursday. Ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych upended No. 6 Tommy Robredo, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2; Victor Troicki advanced when seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was a set up, retired with an abdominal strain; and No. 12 Rainer Schuettler ousted eight-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-7 (12-14), 6-4.

Friday's quarterfinal schedule includes Ferrer going against del Potro and Roddick playing Troicki.

Dunhill Championship has co-leaders

DUNFERMLINE, Scotland, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Ross Fisher and Soren Hansen shot matching 8-under-par 64s Thursday and share the lead after one round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Fife, Scotland.

Fisher's round included an eagle at the par-5 12th hole, a bogey at the 15th, and seven birdies, with the bogey eventually costing him the outright overnight lead.

"The weather was just perfect (and) to take advantage of a day like this was just great," Fisher said. "I'm off to a great start, but there is long way to go."

Hansen made an eagle at the par-5 ninth, a bogey at the 16th, and seven birdies.

"It was a very good finish, but I had played well all day and we were playing in very good conditions," Hansen said.

The pair leads Martin Kaymer by one stroke, with a group of nine golfers at 6-under 66, sharing fourth place.

Defending champion Nick Dougherty shot 2-over 74 and shares 132nd place with nine others, including Ernie Els.

Peng leads way into Tashkent quarterfinals

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Shuai Peng used a straight-set victory Thursday to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the $145,000 Tashkent Open tennis tournament in Uzbekistan.

Peng dispatched Arantxa Rus, 6-1, 7-5, in the highlight match of Thursday's second-round play at the hard-court tournament. She will next go against sixth-seeded Monica Niculescu, who advanced when Yaroslava Shvedova, trailing 6-3, 3-4, retired due to illness.

No. 3-seeded Sorana Cirstea ousted Anna Lapushchenkova, 6-1, 6-4, and Michelle Larcher de Brito beat Tatiana Poutchek, 6-4, 6-1, in other second-round matches Thursday.

Cirstea drew Larcher de Brito for Friday's quarterfinals while fourth-seeded Sabine Lisicki plays Urszula Radwanska and No. 5-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova faces Ioana Raluca Olaru.

The tournament continues through Sunday when the 2008 Tashkent Open titlist will collect $22,925.

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