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Lampre: Petacchi suspect in doping network Bernucci.

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DAOTEC

DAOTEC

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'Ciclismo, nuova inchiesta sul doping Perquisite le case di Bernucci e Petacchi'

This time it's the Guardia di Finanza to score a broad operation against the usual "pharmacy" of doping in the area between Pisa and Lucca. And the cycling world faces a new storm.
The network control is over a young sprinter: Lorenzo Bernucci. And the story touches - even his captain in the Lampre, Alessandro Petacchi, 149 career victories including the Milano-Sanremo 2005. In fact, even the home of sprinter Petacchi was searched, but on the outcome of the operation was still not leaked anything ... only one Policia told what 'he' had found:
products that fall under the list of those banned for doping, such as albumin (a substance used to dilute the blood and thus lower the hematocrit), sibutramine ( a stimulant) and some vials of foreign origin whose content must be analyzed., before his mouth was shut.
Bernucci could not take off the Tour of Flanders because of a sudden illness and had to go home said the team. Even during the day because his wife has been advised of the visit of the soldiers who raided his home in Quarrata.
Bernucci is Professional since 2002 with the Landbouwkrediet Colnago, then moved up to T- Mobile, Fassa Bortolo, LPR and now Lampre.
More: http://www.repubblica.it/sport/ciclismo/2010/04/04/news/finanza_bernucci-3124154/

Beppe, Beppe, Beppe ...
You ask Giuseppe and he’ll tell you: the sport is going to hell in a hand-basket. The doping tests, the whereabouts checks, the biological passport — how’s a rider supposed to “prep” for races? Danilo di Luca banned, Rebellin gone, where are the heroes?
This is just one of those “Italian” things, right? the old Italian ways die hard. It must kill a man like Giuseppe Saronni.
http://www.atwistedspoke.com/2010/01/25/4361/
 
A

Anonymous

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Procycling Mag have this morning tweeted the following: Linked?

News of large doping investigation centering on Mantova, and with links to Humanplasma enquiry, in today's Gazzetta dello Sport. Gazzetta suggesting that chemist at centre of investigation, Guido Nigrelli, has links with Lampre team coach Sergio Gelati.
Click to expand...
 
Dr. Maserati

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Hibbles said:
Procycling Mag have this morning tweeted the following: Linked?
Click to expand...

Guido Nigrelli??! Thats a blast from the past. He was involved in a doping inquiry some years ago in the north of Italy. If I remember correctly Giuseppe Saronni was involved/implicated in some way - and Saronni is DS at Lampre.
 
Dr. Maserati

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I loved this statement from Lampre yesterday.

"The activity of the Lampre-Farnese Vini team has always been done with respect for honesty, sporting fairness and the fight against doping.
The name of team manager Giuseppe Saronni has been linked by some media to a coach that 'has apparently often worked with (Saronni's) team's', almost suggesting a systematic use of banned methods. The team refuses to accept any links to these people that may damage its image and reserves the right to take legal action to defend its name and image."
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One wonders how a team which claims "respect for honesty, sporting fairness and the fight against doping" has had 3 riders come back positive in the last 2 years.
Christian Murro, was positive for furosemide in January 2008
Patxi Vila, was positive for testosterone in March 2008
Paolo Bossoni, busted for EPO in June 2008

It then goes on and hires Petacchi, Hondo and Bernucci who have all served doping sanctions and Di Luca dropped the clanger on RAI that he had signed a contract with them.

What 'name and image' have they got to defend?
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

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BroDeal said:
You would think that a country like Italy would eventually get tired of annihilating their riders while Spain protects their dopers.
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Yes I find that annoying as well!

ak-zaaf said:
Ballan has a mansion in Tuscany with a ferrari parked in front and a rainbow jersey framed in the living room.
Totally worth it.
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But will be in disgarce for the rest of his life!
 
ak-zaaf

ak-zaaf

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auscyclefan94 said:
But will be in disgarce for the rest of his life!
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No he won't. He'll probably become a DS, Rai commentator or start a cycling school or something like that.

In most 'old' cycling countries the main feeling will be: "He did what everybody does. And he did it well."
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

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ak-zaaf said:
No he won't. He'll probably become a DS, Rai commentator or start a cycling school or something like that.

In most 'old' cycling countries the main feeling will be: "He did what everybody does. And he did it well."
Click to expand...

Doubt a team or tv station would want a discraged cheat on their employee list. On the last statement, do you feel the same way?
 
ak-zaaf

ak-zaaf

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auscyclefan94 said:
Doubt a team or tv station would want a discraged cheat on their employee list. On the last statement, do you feel the same way?
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Well, Dutch co-commentator Maarten Ducrot fully confessed using all kinds of products during his career, Belgian co-commentator Jose de Cauwer admitted in court his mailbox at home was used in an Amphetamine trade, Virenque was hired by Eurosport. As for teams: seen Aldag lately?

On the last statement: kinda. I don't applaud it, but it's still cycling. Doping is part of it. EPO ruined a lot, but I just can't seem to care about a little testosterone patch or an asthma inhaler used a little too much.
It's not black and white. For you Ballan went from absolute hero to villain with one press-release. I would still like the guy but would just look at his palmares a little different.
 
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Happen to have Rai Sport on the tv, just as they were "live" about Vania Rossi.
I only caught the end of it, but there seems to be developments in her case and possibly the big bust.
Watch this space. Things are certainly moving faster in Italy, than in the Piti problem.
 
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issoisso

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ak-zaaf said:
No he won't. He'll probably become a DS, Rai commentator or start a cycling school or something like that.

In most 'old' cycling countries the main feeling will be: "He did what everybody does. And he did it well."
Click to expand...

Precisely. If he gets caught now, his only regret will be "damn, I never won Roubaix".

If he hadn't doped, he would never have won what he won. And he knows this. They all know this. Which is why most are on drugs.

People who "don't understand how anyone can be so stupid" don't realize two things:

1. It's not a moral choice. "Compete clean or win dirty". it's compete dirty or never compete. As Zülle said, the choice for him at the time was to either do it or go back to painting houses. The situation is far better now, but for the majority it's still like that. Not everyone has superhuman talent that'll allow them be a pro while clean.

2. Most don't see it as wrong. At all. They feel they do what they need to do, and not a second thought. Would they, given the choice, prefer the sport to be 100% clean? All of them would. But it's not a big dilemma for them.

A lot of the people who "don't understand how anyone can be so stupid" download movies and songs of the internet. They don't see anything wrong with it. "It's not like it's a big deal". That is exactly the level of thought and importance that these riders give to doping.
 
F

Ferminal

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BroDeal said:
You would think that a country like Italy would eventually get tired of annihilating their riders while Spain protects their dopers.
Click to expand...

I've been meaning to start a thread on this for ages, but we might as well have the discussion here.

Full respect to Italy/CONI, they are the only ones doing what needs to be done.

But you have to ask why? Spain, UCI, ASO have no interest in pursuing dopers and attempting to clean things up. Italy are sacrificing themselves for a greater good - putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

Bring on the Giro, everyone should give it their full support as at least it there might be some legitimacy about it. If this is the route Italy is going down, the public needs to get right behind them.
 
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Beech Mtn

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CyclingNews latest article claims Santambrogio (now at BMC) is also being investigated. Also Guido Bontempi (now a DS at Astana) and Dr. Andrea Andreazzoli (now Astana doctor).

Remember Alberto's get-out clause?
 
Libertine Seguros

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So some are reporting that it's come about because of evidence given by Emanuele Sella after his 2008 bust, or indirectly so (maybe Priamo sang now he's out for four years or something?). Wonder how that will affect how he's seen in the péloton. Another Simeoni perhaps?

I still maintain that using CERA was the best thing Sella ever did. He didn't test positive at the 2008 Giro, so he's still got that maglia verde at home. More people know who he is than would have done otherwise, and he's back and at the same level (ProContinental) within a year. If the péloton accept him back, then what a coup he's pulled off!
 
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