32 may be indicted in Mantua Investigation

[Ferminal]

I just found these comments by Dan Benson a little odd.



1. Last year Ballan was officially under investigation. Nothing came of that investigation for over a month so BMC had no reason to suspend them.
2. Ballan is yet to have official charges laid on him. So how have BMC broken 'UCI's ethical standings"?

If cyclists had to turn inactive whenever they were "under investigation" some teams would struggle to field 8 or 9 riders.

BMC's move last year to do so with Ballan and Santambrogio was commendable. They have probably grown tired of the situation though. Why should BMC stop theirs riding when the other names under investigation are probably still going to be racing.

The "ethical" criteria in license selection is a joke, actually, the whole license selection process is a joke, but anyway.

 

[D-Queued]

...

The Giro is right around the corner and what better way of getting people excited about it than the annual doping story?

Mimicry remains the sincerest form of flattery.

The Giro has stolen another page right out of the Tour handbook.

Dave.

 

[Frosty]

Saronni is quitting Lampre before the Giro. From the rest of the article it looks as though Lampre is planning a big clear-out with the team to be built around young riders. Suggests that there is going to be a heavy fall-out from the investigation.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/saronni-ready-to-quit-lampre-isd-after-doping-investigation

 

[blackcat]

The Dane lives in Italy

and Mexico

 

[WildspokeJoe]

Nothing will come from this.

correct! (slight bow)

At this point, I don't blame the Italian authorities.

I'm sure they're thinking if the Spanish/US et all are letting their riders continue, why should we besmirch our guys.

 

[Frosty]

correct! (slight bow)

At this point, I don't blame the Italian authorities.

I'm sure they're thinking if the Spanish/US et all are letting their riders continue, why should we besmirch our guys.

The case hasnt been formally closedd with no charges has it?

We'll see what happens. Maybe the wheels of justice are turning but are doing so too slowly for BMC's liking so they have decided to get their riders racing again while they can. We'll see.

 

[luckyboy]

https://twitter.com/#!/dnlbenson/status/80921314981978112

@dnlbenson
Daniel Benson
Ballan and Mantova riders called in for questioning
2 minutes ago via web

 

[Frosty]

Ballan out of racing again? Could Cunego be pulled out of the swiss tour if he is one of those facing questions too?

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

They were given dates for hearings? questioning? something like that, starting next week.

Cunego was not amongst them.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=39795&tp=n

Susan

 

[hrotha]

It should be noted that they have been summoned by Torri and the antidoping authorities, not by any judge.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am sick of the whole situation. I have afeeling Ballan won't ride the tour so it won't affect the tour team.

 

[Benotti69]

I am sick of the whole situation. I have afeeling Ballan won't ride the tour so it won't affect the tour team.

hopefully Ballan spills the beans on Phonak part II.

 

[just some guy]

Did they get interviewed as they said, if so any news - charges etc etc

 

[Frosty]

Did they get interviewed as they said, if so any news - charges etc etc

Dunno, but the timings on here suggest that the last meeting should have only just finished

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=39795&tp=n

Did anyone ever find out what angle the interviews were going to take?

 

[Escarabajo]

It is official in my book: Ballan is a doper. I don't need more proof. His response is textbook doping 101. This guy is a total moron and an idiot.

On leaving the hearing, the Italian was asked if he was at peace with his conscience. “I can only say that I have passed all the anti-doping controls that I have undertaken,” Ballan said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-meets-italian-anti-doping-procura-in-rome

 

[L'arriviste]

It is official in my book: Ballan is a doper...

On leaving the hearing, the Italian was asked if he was at peace with his conscience. “I can only say that I have passed all the anti-doping controls that I have undertaken,” Ballan said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-meets-italian-anti-doping-procura-in-rome

+1. Both the question and the answer in the CN quote point to something sounding like finality in this case.

 

[hrotha]

On the other hand, at least that sort of stock response suggests he's not comfortable outright lying. Also, it's pretty clear these guys have a pretty warped sense of what doping and cheating is. Check this piece with David Etxebarría, for example:

Q: Hello. Is it possible to do a good GC at the Tour or at a big race while clean? Or was it possible when you were riding? Be sincere.
A: 100% of riders who ride the Tour and pass the tests are clean. Which means it's possible to do it.

 

[joe_papp]

On the other hand, at least that sort of stock response suggests he's not comfortable outright lying. Also, it's pretty clear these guys have a pretty warped sense of what doping and cheating is. Check this piece with David Etxebarría, for example:

You don't think that it says a lot that not being "comfortable outright lying" becomes the standard by which we judge the integrity of current professionals? lol

BTW: the Etxebarría quote is classic newspeak - great find. Bravo.

 

[Cloxxki]

I'm a louzy amateur but I have not doubt I could ride and finish the tour. Let alone if I'd train for it.
Where I'd dfinately get in trouble, is the time limits in the mountains or an ITT.
Especially with an Alpe d'Huez type if ITT. The cut-off was like 48mins there?

Few people can ride within the limit if at the front a superstacked Lance type is setting the pace. Let alone after 2 weeks of hard racing and no aided recovery.
He gets so much gain, that a clean lesser rider will easily fall off the bottom of the results list. Someone, once you turn pro, you rarely get to deal with this.
I know some seriously gifted hard-training clibers, and they never break 48min on AdH in a TT. Pro's, even sprinters and domestiques, can all do it when asked to.

 

[hrotha]

You don't think that it says a lot that not being "comfortable outright lying" becomes the standard by which we judge the integrity of current professionals?

Oh, of course. It's kind of funny* to see their consciences trying to make one last stand before giving in to total moral corruption.

*also sad

 

[Frosty]

and on it goes

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cunego-and-saronni-summoned-by-italian-anti-doping-investigators

 

[just some guy]

Velonews saying Ballan for the 3rd time as well.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/ballan-and-cunego-called-before-italian-olympic-committee-over-doping_186812

 

[MacRoadie]

Velonews saying Ballan for the 3rd time as well.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/ballan-and-cunego-called-before-italian-olympic-committee-over-doping_186812

Special "lollypop" delivery for Mr. Ballan!

 

[sniper]

Rasmussen and Nigrelli go way back. Friendship is unrelated to doping:

"Ich kenne Nigrelli seit zehn Jahren. Ich bin zu ihm gekommen, um Medikamente für meine Familie und meine Hunde zu holen", beteuert er. Es solle sich um Antiparasitenmittel für die Vierbeiner, Haarwuchsmittel für die Ehefrau, Nasentropfen für die Kinder und Vitamine für ihn selbst gehandelt haben, präzisiert er.

>> "I know him for years. I went to him, to get medication for my family and dogs", he states. He specifies that he bought anti-parasite-remedy for his dogs, hairgrowth-hormones for his wife, nose-drops for his children, and vitamins for himself

http://www.taz.de/!77148/

 

[Benotti69]

Rasmussen and Nigrelli go way back. Friendship is unrelated to doping:
http://www.taz.de/!77148/

I read that or something similar a few days back. Rasmussen saying the system is broken is not going to help his case! But Rasmussen is not the full shilling, he still believes he didn't break any rules when he was thrown out of the TdF!!