Police in Italy arrest pro cyclist & others

[la.margna]

La Gazzetta dello Sport are a funny bunch. Just a couple days ago, while Mosquera was giving Nibali a run for his money, one of their "cycling experts" was quick to put Ezequiel on the hot seat, openly asking him to account for his "sudden" increase in "efficiency". Which is legal equivalent of insinuating doping. How dare he bring the fight to a Son of Italy!

Today, Riccó's brother in-law gets busted with his grandmother's medication.

Priceless.

And where's the relation to the case discussed in this thread?
In contrast to Spain, where doping is welcome and protected by government officials and the industry (similar to Belgium or Luxembourg), Italy does at least something against it and spends a lot of taxpayer money D) to fight against sport cheaters.

 

[DAOTEC]

Cobra and Vacansoleil in big trouble

Tuesday, 21 September 2010,
Italian Riccardo Riccò faces a second doping investigation and the possibility of a lifetime ban depending on what police uncover in today's raids in Italy.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/500313/ricco-faces-second-doping-investigation.html

 

[theswordsman]

Tuesday, 21 September 2010,
Italian Riccardo Riccò faces a second doping investigation and the possibility of a lifetime ban depending on what police uncover in today's raids in Italy.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/500313/ricco-faces-second-doping-investigation.html

We already spent a couple of pages insulting them for this one

It may or may not have something to do with this case in the end, but an Italian minor, (as in young) cyclist has tested positive in August.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=32880&tp=n

 

[indurain666]

From Vania's Facebook Wall, she wrote two hours ago:

"Ciao"

Well, I guess that sums it all up. She knows.

I hope she doesn't rot in jail for too long like Raimondas Rumsas wife. I wonder where are they now? (Rumsas and wife)

 

[rhubroma]

From Vania's Facebook Wall, she wrote two hours ago:

"Ciao"

Well, I guess that sums it all up. She knows.

I hope she doesn't rot in jail for too long like Raimondas Rumsas wife. I wonder where are they now? (Rumsas and wife)

Rumsas, at least up till a couple of years ago, was winning Granfondos in Tuscany and getting payed for it.

 

[indurain666]

Rumsas, at least up till a couple of years ago, was winning Granfondos in Tuscany and getting payed for it.

Is he still married?

 

[rhubroma]

Is he still married?

Hell, I don't know. But he sure was fit! Incredible you go to these races and you find yourself up against an ex-doper podium finisher at the Tour.

This is why the sport will never be clean...

 

[flicker]

Are any of the flamenia bianchi bikes available on e-bay yet? I need a 60cm. full campi. I would imagine they need some lawyering funds right now.

 

[jbenedict]

You know what they say about doping-if you can't keep it in the syringe, keep it in the family.

Italians are so family oriented that even doping is a family affair.

I would love to be a fly on the antipasto during those Sunday dinners at the Ricco and Basso households.

You're a fly alright. On what you feed, I can only guess.

 

[theswordsman]

Investigations are longtime Nas, born precisely in September 2009 when, thanks to some wiretaps, revealed that "many athletes were permanently dedicated intake of substances contained in doping." Da qui le perquisizioni domiciliari, ben 40 tra le province di Roma, Rimini, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, Prato, Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, Milano, Pistoia, Parma, Latina, Perugia e Bari. Hence the house searches, 40 between the provinces of Rome, Rimini, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, Prato, Bergamo, Reggio Emilia, Milan, Pistoia, Parma, Latin, Perugia and Bari
A casa del ciclista-operaio Galli e del farmacista sono state sequestrate ben 150 confezioni di sostanze dopanti, comprendenti in maggior parte anabolizzanti, epo, eccitanti, il “famoso” gh, l'ormone della crescita e diverse sostanze ad effetto mascherante , utili per farla franca in caso di controllo antidoping. At home the cyclist Galli-warden and the pharmacist were seized as many as 150 packages of drugs, including in most anabolic steroids, EPO, stimulants, "famous" GH, growth hormone and other substances having a masking effect, useful for get away in case of doping control.
Secondo i militari stessi, tutte le sostanze dopanti erano proprio di Enrico Rossi, il quale possedeva anche una tenda ipobarica , il cui uso è vietato in Italia. According to the military themselves, all their performance-enhancing drugs were Henry Smith, who also had a hypobaric tent, whose use is banned in Italy.

http://www.italnews.info/2010/09/21/mega-operazione-antidoping-enrico-rossi-arrestato/

L’indagine è partita in seguito alla denuncia contro ignoti, fatta da uno degli ultimi allenatori di Riccardo Riccò, ai carabinieri di Perugia, dopo aver ricevuto via sms una richiesta d’informazioni su sostanze dopanti.

The investigation started following a complaint against persons unknown, made by one of the last coaches of Riccardo Ricco, the police in Perugia after receiving an SMS request for information on banned substances.

http://www.bolognatg24.it/bologna-n...stato-a-rimini-enrico-rossi-cognato-di-ricco/

Le indagini sono iniziate a settembre scorso quando uno dei preparatori atletici di Riccardo Riccò ricevette degli sms, firmati «Cobra» e «Ricki R.», in cui gli venivano chiesti consigli sull'assunzione di sostanze dopanti; da qui intercettazioni telefoniche hanno portato a scoprire il giro di doping che coinvolgeva molti atleti. The investigation began last September when one of the trainers of Riccardo Ricco received the text message, signed "Cobra" and "Ricki R.," where were requested advice on the taking of drugs, hence interception led to discover a tour of doping involving many athletes.

http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cronache/201009articoli/58724girata.asp

 

[BroDeal]

The investigation began last September when one of the trainers of Riccardo Ricco received the text message, signed "Cobra" and "Ricki R.," where were requested advice on the taking of drugs, hence interception led to discover a tour of doping involving many athletes.

Ricco signs his messages with "Cobra"? Now that is funny. I wonder if he introduces himself to people as Cobra.

"Hey, baby, my name's Cobra. How about you and me go back to my place and I'll show you my snake"

--Bro

 

[theswordsman]

The stories all say that Enrico Rossi is the central figure in the investigation. Ricco could obviously talk to his coach in person, as how to dope would take an awful lot of typing. "Rikki R" could turn out to be Enrico Rossi trying to get information from a trainer for a different team.

I'm not defending Ricco. I hated the guy when he raced the Giro against Contador, before I knew he was a doper. But my brother in laws do a lot of things that have nothing to do with me, and the "Cobra" in the investigation title could come from the SMS.

Ricco could end up being one of the six pro cyclists still at large, but the biggest part of this investigation is about drug trafficking, not doping. They found drugs at the home of one of the amateur athletes, and a mountain of EPO and other substances elsewhere, but the only thing attributed to the raid on Rossi so far is a hypoxic tent.

Cycling Weekly printed their story based on the same info that's in the articles linked here. They ran with the Ricco thing because they can, just like everyone slung mud at Riis for doing his job with Schleck and O'Grady.

Maybe Ricco will be in cuffs tomorrow, but from what's in Google News, he's not involved yet.

Apologies for the on topic interruption. Carry on

 

[theswordsman]

Da Quotidiano.net: Riccò non c'entra niente
From Quotidiano.net: Riccò has nothing to do

This article has a lot more detail on Cobra-Red, but Google is pants at translating it. But the trainer who got the SMS texts that started it all in September 2009 contacted the police because he was afraid people were trying to discredit Ricco on his return. If I could impose on one of our Italian friends again for translation help please.

Le indagini sono partite a settembre 2009, quando
uno dei preparatori atletici di Riccò va dai carabinieri del Nas di Perugia e dice di aver ricevuto sul suo cellulare alcuni sms con cui ignoti, che si firmavano “cobra” - nome di battaglia di Riccò - o Ricky R., chiedevano consigli sull’assunzione di dopanti. Il preparatore
temeva che fossero manovre per screditare Riccò in vista nel suo rientro. I Nas accertano che i messaggi non arrivano dal telefono del corridore, ma scattano le intercettazioni telefoniche. Così “e’ emerso che alcuni atleti, molti professionisti, soprattutto ciclisti, erano
stabilmente dediti all’assunzione di sostanze a contenuto dopante”. A giugno sono scattate le prime perquisizioni, a casa del farmacista edell’operaio-ciclista, dove i Nas hanno sequestrato 150 confezioni di specialità mediche e dopanti, soprattutto anabolizzanti, epo,
antinfiammatori usati sui cavalli, eccitanti, ormoni della crescita e sostanze ad effetto mascherante che, diluendo le urine, sono in grado di eludere i controlli sportivi.

Investigations are matches in September 2009, when
one of the trainers of Riccò is from the NAS Carabinieri
Perugia and says he received some text messages on his cell phone with which unknown, which is signed "Cobra" - nom de guerre of Riccò - or Ricky R., asking advice about taking doping. The preparer feared that they were maneuvering to discredit Rich in his view
return. The Nas ensure that messages do not arrive by phone runner, but taking the wiretaps.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=32878&tp=n

The translation on this one is clearer. Rossi collected the drugs from the three channels. The doctor and athletic trainer gave training plans to go with the drugs.

http://www.ilgiornale.it/sport/sei_...-09-2010/articolo-id=474997-page=0-comments=1

Enrico Rossi second reconstruction of the investigators, was the man who collected the performance-enhancing drugs from the three supply channels discovered by the police and have also led to 'Stop Vanegas Nicolas Sanchez, a former Colombian amateur rider, a few months DEA agent advertising concessionaire Bicisport BS-monthly magazine. Assieme al corridore colombiano sono stati fermati anche il cicloamatore Giorgio Galli, l'infermiera Chiara Ferri, il farmacista Leonardo Scorpiniti e proprio ieri mattina, in "flagranza di reato", Davide Paganussi, un altro cicloamatore, presso cui è stata rintracciata «una cospicua quantità di dopanti». Together with the Colombian runner were also arrested amateur cyclist Giorgio Galli, Chiara Ferri nurse, pharmacist and Leonardo Scorpiniti yesterday morning, "the act", David Paganussi, another amateur cyclist, at which have been traced to "a substantial amount of doping. "

http://www.ilgiornale.it/sport/sei_...-09-2010/articolo-id=474997-page=0-comments=1

 

[Benotti69]

If you mean hypocrite, I believe I already did.
If you are talking about a blood doping Hippo then I am at a loss for a response.

i believe Flicky is talking about a blood doping hippo who rides crits

 

[theswordsman]

Cycling Weekly just posted a new version of the story.

Ricco does not appear to be involved, though the investigation carries the "Cobra-Red" code name. "Il Cobra" is Ricco's nickname and "Red" is the English translation for Rossi.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...w-rossi-held-on-drug-trafficking-charges.html

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I just mucked out this thread and deleted a number of postings which were trolling and responses to that, not to mention off-topic.

Stay on topic -- or else.

Susan

 

[flicker]

I do not see how any of this drug bust includes Rico. He distanced himself from his wife and his wifes' family before the bust went down. If he had known about the drug ring it was not his responsibility to blow the whistle. Why be hard on Rico? He did his sentence already.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

It is our understanding that they are back together, but, by the way, they are not now and never have been married.

Susan

 

[flicker]

It is our understanding that they are back together, but, by the way, they are not now and never have been married.

Susan

To bad. The law in the US is that you do not have to testify against your spouse. I would imagine it would be the same in Italy. In another case I know about here in the US drugs were found on the property of a woman. The drugs belonged to the common law husband. Since she claimed not to know about the drugs the authorities were unable to go after her property. (RICO ACT)

Common law habitation has its privilages!

 

[JPM London]

To bad. The law in the US is that you do not have to testify against your spouse. I would imagine it would be the same in Italy. In another case I know about here in the US drugs were found on the property of a woman. The drugs belonged to the common law husband. Since she claimed not to know about the drugs the authorities were unable to go after her property. (RICO ACT)

Common law habitation has its privilages!

and it's called the RICO Act? Almost too funny to bear...

 

[Benotti69]

I do not see how any of this drug bust includes Rico. He distanced himself from his wife and his wifes' family before the bust went down. If he had known about the drug ring it was not his responsibility to blow the whistle. Why be hard on Rico? He did his sentence already.

Why knowingly race against dopers if you are not a doper yourself?

 

[Barrus]

To bad. The law in the US is that you do not have to testify against your spouse. I would imagine it would be the same in Italy. In another case I know about here in the US drugs were found on the property of a woman. The drugs belonged to the common law husband. Since she claimed not to know about the drugs the authorities were unable to go after her property. (RICO ACT)

Common law habitation has its privilages!

I believe that in almost any western state you do not have to testify against your significant other (most times included this way to ensure the same protection for same sex relationships in states where they are not allowed to marry) and relatives in the first degree. But I think that two people who live together and are in a relationship, and have lived together for a long period, are still protected from the need to testify against the other, in which it does not matter whether they are married. Although there is no such thing as a common law husband around here.

 

[theswordsman]

Tuttobiciweb has more details from the paper version of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The translation is too weak to post, but this case started in August 2009 when a trainer named Giovanni Camorani started receiving strange text messages while on vacation. He's a friend of Ricco's manager at Flaminia, and he helped Ricco train with a system he developed on a Rotopress, a bike with watts meter that you can ride at different angles.

Anyway, he started getting texts, the first saying "Hello, I'm Cobra Ricco" trying to order EPO and other drugs. It wasn't Ricco's phone number, so he called him to ask if he knew anything, but he didn't. Camorani hoped it was a bad joke, but was texted a few days later about pick-up, and got another text after that, signed by similar names.

He got scared and contacted the police. The "Cobra" in Cobra-Red came from the name used on the first SMS.

If one of our Italian friends happen by, could you please check out the article, and let us know if I missed anything interesting or got anything wrong? Thanks

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=32901&tp=n

 

[theswordsman]

Some details about the wire taps and code names nurse = ninfo. I can't say for sure using Google Translate, but it seems to indicate Rossi's girlfriend, parents, and sister (does he have more than one?) in the investigation.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=32910&tp=n

 

[JPM London]

Thanks for the updates and links. Wonder when something is mentioned in English language media...