PARIS -- A French inquiry into sports doping has uncovered prf that 1998 Tour de France champion Marco Pantani and runner-up Jan Ullrich used a banned bld bster to fuel their performances. Frances senate, after a five-month investigation focused on fighting sports doping, released a report Wednesday that confirms what many riders have long said: use of the banned substance EPO was rife in cycling in the late 1990s, before a test for the drug had been developed. Pantani was suspended in 1999 from the Giro after failing a random bld test, and his career was damaged by several doping investigations. He died in 2004 at 34 of an accidental drug overdose. Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, has admitted to bld doping and last year was stripped of his third-place finish in the 2005 Tour. The 1998 Tour de France was notable for the major scandal that emerged with the discovery of widespread doping on the French Festina team. The subsequent police crackdown led to seven of the original 21 teams either withdrawing or being ejected from the Tour. Other star riders whose positive doping tests were disclosed by the senate report Wednesday include double stage winner Mario Cipollini of Italy and Laurent Jalabert of France. Kevin Livingston, an American who finished 17th in that years Tour, also tested positive for EPO, according to documents included in the senate report. Third-place finisher, American Bobby Julich, last year admitted to his own EPO use during the 1998 Tour. In 1999, Lance Armstrong won the first of his seven straight titles, which he was stripped of this year after admitting to using banned substances for all of those victories. Senators tk pains to point out that the 1998 Tour de France disclosures represented only a few pages of the 800-page report released Wednesday, which mainly focused on establishing the size of the sports doping problem and identifying ways of improving anti-doping measures. The senate inquiry heard from 138 athletes, drug testers and officials from 18 sports, including rugby and soccer. The report comprises 60 proposals for improving anti-doping measures, including establishing "truth and reconciliation commissions" within each sport; making sure that all sporting events taking place in France fall under the watch of French anti-doping authorities; and testing for a wider range of illicit substances. Senators also propose taking disciplinary power away from sports federations and giving it to the French anti-doping body AFLD. The positive tests disclosed in the senate report were uncovered via retrospective testing in 2004 and 2005, by French anti-doping authorities seeking to perfect their test for EPO. The results had since been stored without the identities of the riders being released. Senator Jean-Jacques Lozach, one of the reports authors, said retrospective testing is one of the ways authorities can stay ahead of cheating riders. "Given the performance of Chris Frme, the winner of the 2013 Tour de France, there were doubts expressed and suspicions raised. In light of todays controls these suspicions are not legitimate or justified," Lozach said. "Who knows if in three or five years these doubts wont be justified or legitimized by retrospective controls." Brian Ckson, the head of British Cycling who is challenging Pat McQuaid for the presidency of the sports governing body UCI in September elections, called the senate report "a terrible indictment of the people responsible, and those with the most responsibility for the culture within the sport are the UCI." In a statement, Ckson pledged to implement a fully independent investigation into doping in cycling. "We owe it to those who chose to ride dope-free and to the fans to understand the mistakes of the past and make sure they are not repeated," Ckson said. Another former French pro whose positive doping test emerged Wednesday said senators risked tarring a cleaner new generation of cyclists with the disclosure of 15-year-old doping revelations. "Im thinking of Thibaut Pinot, who finished 10th in the Tour at 22, or Romain Bardet," said Jacky Durand, winner of one stage of the 1998 Tour as well as the prize for most combative rider. Durand, now a cycling commentator on Eurosport, said that in his day, "we needed to salt the soup, as the older riders said." "Our sport is much cleaner today, I want people to understand that," Durand said. kiestore.com/Broncos-Steve-Atwater-Jersey/" target="_blank">Steve Atwater Womens Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. kiestore.com/Broncos-Joe-Flacco-Jersey/" target="_blank">Joe Flacco Youth Jersey . 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Payne figured it might take a little bit more time to install her system. But her players instantly bought in and now theyre off and rolling.We have a great group of girls here, who just play their hearts out, said Payne, whose team hosts rival Colorado State on Thursday night. But I definitely did not expect to start this way.A little bonding went a long way. The first thing Payne did after being hired from Santa Clara last March was chat with each player. Just a get-to-know-you session. Whats your family like? Hopes and aspirations? That sort of thing.We really worked to build relationships with the kids, because we didnt recruit any of them, said Payne, who was 23-9 in her final season at Santa Clara. We didnt know any of them.But she could see their work ethic. Hard to miss, actually.Guards Kennedy Leonard and Alexis Robinson were always on the flr whenever she walked past the gym.Turns out, those two had adopted what they termed their 7-to-9 rule. They showed up each day from 7 to 9 a.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. to get in some extra shting. The workouts actually started before Payne was brought on board and they would sometimes be joined by other players. Simply doing their part to bounce back from a 7-23 season a year ago that led to the exit of coach Linda Lappe.That (extra work) was for us, our team, because we were sick of losing, Leonard said.Payne didnt ask about last season. It didnt matter. This was a new beginning as the Buffaloes try to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012-13.Were a very positive staff and always upbeat, encouraging, Payne said.dddddddddddd We have a lot of fun with our team.Like the other day, when the Colorado ftball team was playing Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game. The basketball team decided to play a little ftball. Later, they had dinner at their coachs house as they tk in the game. They even played with her three kids.And last weekend, Leonard & Co. tk two of Paynes children to see the movie, Moana.Everything with us is about family, said Leonard, a sophomore from Southlake, Texas. Constantly hearing that day in and day out, it builds an even stronger team and unity.The Buffaloes have taken to heart the three pillars of Paynes program -- be the toughest team on the flr, be the hardest-working squad and play with discipline. Theyve won by an average of 25.8 points and knocked off No. 15 Kentucky 79-69 on Nov. 19.We give everyone a role on the team that plays to their strength, said Payne, whose real name is Ali-Marie but was nicknamed JR as a kid by her father after getting into fights with her brother. Its an ode to the character J.R. Ewing in the show Dallas.Paynes system is a hybrid of what she ran at Santa Clara. They push the pace at times and theyre aggressive on defense. Also making the Buffaloes difficult is that they have seven players averaging at least five points, with Leonard leading the way at a 16.3.No one has to go for 30 for us to be successful, Payne said. All these different players, on any given night, have the ability to put the ball in the basket. Thats such a great thing for a first-year coach.So is this: A little chip on the shoulder of the players. Just to show everyone this program is on the rise again.Expect the unexpected, Leonard said. Because every day we go into practice and work on something new to try and get better. Well probably surprise a few people along the way. ' ' '