While I don't have time to translate and analyse la Gazzetta's article (but also one in la Repubblica), I have to say CN does a pretty poor job in relating its content. And the rather pathetic commentary by some posters at the bottom of the piece about the "Italian dietrologia" is tinged with a British snobbery that doesn't bear consideration, if not to say shameful racism. It demonstrates not only an ignorance of Italian society, its ways and contradictions, but a repugnant arrogance.
This isn't "dietrologia," but gotten from the confessions and phone taps of important Camorra members.
What must be considered is that in the Naples area, the illegal betting racket on sport is huge business, particularly when it comes to football. In fact matches have been thrown as a result. Pantani's popularity was bringing Italian cycling during the 99 Giro to a level comparable to football, for which when the sums went unexpectedly through the roof the Camorra was about to loose billions of old lire. The revelations of Renato Vallanzasco and Rosario Tolomelli, the two mafiosi which said Pantani ("Il pelatino," the little bald one) was conspired against as a result, "appear to be credible" according to the Procura di Forlì. This is the crux of it.
The presumed blood manipulation of course has nothing to do with being clean, just getting the hematocrit level above the infamous 50%.
One wonders why it took the Italian investigation so long to arrive at the Camorra. Ahh, here is where dietrologia might bear relevance.