Ricco back, again?

[Chuffy]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-may-return-to-racing-in-june-with-amore-and-vita
Don't know Signor Fanini's history - is he straight and is there any chance that he might successfully keep Ricco on a short leash? My gut instinct says that Ricco isn't worth wasting breath on and will just screw him over regardless.

Comments please...

 

[MarkvW]

Ricco

The owner seems set on giving Ricco his "second chance." It seems more like a second chance at a second chance.

 

[Benotti69]

Fanini cant be straight. Why take on such a loose cannon? Because Amore &Vita need the exposure probably...

I doubt it will end pretty.

 

[ElChingon]

Hey Now! He never tested positive! The Second Time.

 

[luckyboy]

Fanini's five rules seem more stringent than anything we normally hear for returning dopers.

1. At the next meeting with Fanini, Riccardo must have removed the two earrings, piercings and also the diamond embedded in a tooth. This is evidence of a totally new image.
2. He must stop working with his agent and also with his trainer. These professionals, and even a his lawyer, will not follow or advise him any longer.
3. He must update immediately the biological passport and never have a drug or a syringe with him, unless expressly authorized by the team.
4. He must come to live with his wife and son in a villa on my property a few minutes from team headquarters so we can check him at any time.
5. He must be available to speak with the competent authorities about his knowledge on the doping system.

A diamond embedded in his tooth?!

 

[I Watch Cycling In July]

2. He must stop working with his agent and also with his trainer. These professionals, and even a his lawyer, will not follow or advise him any longer.

Wish we could impose that rule on 2/3rds of the peloton.

 

[mad black]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-may-return-to-racing-in-june-with-amore-and-vita
Don't know Signor Fanini's history - is he straight and is there any chance that he might successfully keep Ricco on a short leash? My gut instinct says that Ricco isn't worth wasting breath on and will just screw him over regardless.

Comments please...

I don't know his history either but the story says he's a used car salesman which doesn't really transpire confidence in regards to standing by his word and the rules he's stipulating for Ricco.

In my opinion the best thing for cycling is a lifetime ban for Ricco and be done with it. Who could honestly believe in another victory by him even if it was in a 3rd tier race?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Fanini's five rules seem more stringent than anything we normally hear for returning dopers.



A diamond embedded in his tooth?!

Yup, he's got one. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has one too, but I'm more willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

I like Fanini's rules. Fanini is also the source of the Pellizotti/Nibali/Ferrari rumours. He also offered Jesús Manzano a contract back in '04-'05.

 

[brianf7]

He will have another chance if he is as good as they say he is worth the investment. Maybe he has had his big warning he almost died maybe it has opened his eyes.

Time wil tell.

 

[Parrulo]

good for ricco. he never tested positive the last time. the way the whole issue was handled was pathetic. people just make ricco look like the biggest doper ever. . . . i honestly hope he gets back and completely destroys all those hypocrites that don't speak out about their own doping or armstrong's doping or even contador's doping but were ready to make a party when the news were saying ricco was at the risk of dying

 

[Oskayono]

I don't know his history either but the story says he's a used car salesman which doesn't really transpire confidence in regards to standing by his word and the rules he's stipulating for Ricco.

In my opinion the best thing for cycling is a lifetime ban for Ricco and be done with it. Who could honestly believe in another victory by him even if it was in a 3rd tier race?

The Amore Vita Auto Dealerships in Lucca sell predominantly prestige and performance vehicles. Sweet as.

 

[El Oso]

5. He must be available to speak with the competent authorities about his knowledge on the doping system."

Riccò is still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into exactly what happened when he was rushed to hospital on February 6. It was reported that he told the emergency room doctor that he'd undergone a botched blood transfusion but he denied this after leaving hospital.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-may-return-to-racing-in-june-with-amore-and-vita

Comeback may not last long if the investigation reveals the emergency room visit was due to a botched blood transfusion. I would expect he would bi given his lifetime ban if the claims are true.

While I'm certainly not a Ricco fan, in fact I can't stand him, if he can abide by all the rules and survive the investigation then good on him. Could be the best possible situation for him. Albeit people were saying this about the relationship with Sassi.

 

[Magic Spanner]

IMO all dopers should face a lifetime van from competing, managing, commentating, making bikes, or in any way profiting from the sport of cycling.

Bye Ricco, Vino, Contador, Millar, Scarponi, Basso, and all the other proven cheats. We, the clean bike racers and bike racing fans, don't want you.

 

[veganrob]

The Amore Vita Auto Dealerships in Lucca sell predominantly prestige and performance vehicles. Sweet as.

That car has Mickey D on it. That's effin hilarious!

 

[rzombie1988]

Well, I think first off that at maximum, Vacon. should have just suspended him until the case was handled. Firing him like that was pulling the trigger too quickly. To be honest, they probably didn't even need to do that considering how long Contador has gone with a positive.

I'm fine with Ricco coming back until the case is resolved. Do I think he's innocent? No, but let the case come to a conclusion then react.

I think it's really sad. He has tons of talent and is still quite young. He also finally had the chance to return with a new slate and blew it. He's one of my favorites but him being banned from cycling is really the best thing for him and everyone involved.

 

[The Hitch]

I still think the investigation will defeat him and that he will get a life ban.

Boy are those rules strict though.

If he does come back though, and starts winning again, it would be nice to see the faces of those who used him as a scape goat.

 

[Granville57]

As stringent and draconian as this condition is...

1. At the next meeting with Fanini, Riccardo must have removed the two earrings, piercings and also the diamond embedded in a tooth.

Has Fanini or anyone else expressed concern over Ricco's health?
OK, fine. His trip to the hospital had nothing to do with doping.
If that's the case, shouldn't there be grave concern over exactly what put him in the hospital in the first place?

Does this sound like someone who is fit to race professionally?

Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò suffered a sudden illness after a training ride on Sunday afternoon and was taken to the hospital, according to reports in La Gazzetta di Modena. Riccò's father spoke of "kidney failure", but the 27-year-old Italian's ailment has not yet been confirmed.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-hospitalized-for-possible-kidney-ailment

Or have we already forgotten about this?

Medical examinations prove that Riccardo Riccò underwent a blood transfusion, according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. An examination of his blood “confirm that the Vacansoleil rider was administered poorly preserved blood,”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tests-prove-ricco-had-blood-transfusion-dutch-newspaper-says

 

[luckyboy]

Fanini seems to be on the right side of the fence judging by what he has said in the past. Can't say I know much else about him or Amore e Vita than that though.

While Ricco is obviously not a great guy, he has just been doing what a load of other riders are. Just pretty incompetently.

I think Fanini is being pretty hopeful to say the least that Ricco might get a place on a WorldTour team next season.


@Granville57, I would think everybody 'knows' what went on, but nobody is really going to say or admit it.

 

[Mshengu]

Ricco you lucky SOB!!!!

 

[VeloGirl]

3. He must update immediately the biological passport and never have a drug or a syringe with him, unless expressly authorized by the team.

That's not exactly reassuring. Can you imagine if Bruyneel or Riis gave that rule?

 

[luckyboy]

Nobody can ever have a syringe with them anyway.

 

[orbis_25]

Some of these rules seem odd.

No trainer? Obviously that's required. No agent? Err, ok, I'll give that the benefit of the doubt, as Ricco's agent was probably involved in his illicit dealings. But no lawyer? That makes no sense to me. I can't see how Ricco's lawyer can have helped him dope. He (if it is a he and not a she) probably gave Ricco advice when faced with the consequences of his doping, but that's their job. I highly doubt that the lawyer was in any way complicit in Ricco doping. Obviously, Ricco will get a new lawyer and will suffer no legal detriment because of this (hopefully. Who knows what lawyer a used car salesman would approve of...), but it just seems odd that Ricco's lawyer is being tarred with the same brush as his trainer and agent.

Also, he has to remove his piercings? Surely any change in Ricco has to go beyond a mere physical change, so why is this even relevant? Is the reasoning behind this that if Ricco looks like a good, wholesome boy then he is a good, wholesome boy? I'm spotting a massive flaw in that argument.

 

[ansimi]

He's the target of a criminal investigation and the potential criminal penalties are severe so depriving him of his lawyer seems absurd.

Requiring him to remove his piercings is either a superficial image makeover or an attempt to assert control over him by forcing him to obey silly orders.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I would say that the references to lawyer, agent and trainer mean simply that he must dismiss the ones he has and find new ones, presumably selected by Fanini. Not that he has to do without them entirely.

Susan

 

[rhubroma]

"1. At the next meeting with Fanini, Riccardo must have removed the two earrings, piercings and also the diamond embedded in a tooth. This is evidence of a totally new image."

When I read this one, I had a hard time getting through the rest.

What a world, this sport.

So, according to Fanini, earrings, piercings and a diamond embedded in a tooth, would be indications that one is more prone to behave like a scoundrel than one with a more "presentable" look.

Well, at least now we know, there is a mentality in cycling that is still based on those so called conservative values, for which if you don't look like some 1950's grocery store delivery boy we should assume the worst.

What hypocrisy! If I could come up with a list of the so called clean look cyclists who have doped throughout their careers - no tattoos and a "monks life" - there wouldn't be but two riders left in the peleton.

New look? Please. I'd like to know what this has to do with anything, or would like to see the type of people this would satisfy.