35 People Questioned in New Doping Investigation

Leading Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has today revealed that up to thirty five people are now being questioned by Police about a suspected Italian doping network. The story broke earlier in the week when the home of Lampre rider Lorenzo Bernucci was searched and found to contain a number of illegal doping products including Emagel, a drug known to lower ones hematocrit level. Bernucci denied the products were for his personal use and that they belonged to his wife and brother. We’ve heard a similar story before, think back to another Lampre rider, Raimondas Rumsas. Rumsas tested positive for EPO during the Tour of Italy whilst riding for Lampre and in 2002 police discovered corticoids, erythropoietin, testosterone, growth hormones and anabolic steroids in the car of his wife Edita Rumšienė. She was later jailed for several months before being released, despite her claim that the drugs were for her mother-in-law!

The investigation appears to be based around Mr Guido Nigrelli, a pharmacist, horse trainer, coach, who is believed to have worked with some Italian cycling teams. Gazzetta dello Sport also said he was implicated in an investigation, accused of administering the blood thinning drug Emagel.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, other riders being questioned are 2008 World Champion Alessandro Ballan, Damiano Cunego, Francesco Gavazzi, Mauro Santambrogio and nine other riders who have ridden or continue to ride for Lampre. The homes of some of these riders have been searched and under Italian law, anyone under suspicion in a major case can be placed under police investigation.

The Lampre team has been under the microscope in recent years with several of it’s riders testing positive. Pietro Caucchioli (irregular blood profile in biological passport) was suspended in June 2009. Paolo Bossoni tested positive in June 2008 whilst riding for Lampre after placing sixth at the Italian National Road Race Championships and now many products have been found at Bernucci’s home. Should this not enough for the UCI to investigate this team further? Blame lies with the riders in question, yet there have been many doping stories surrounding the Lampre team over the years, therefore Lampre must accept that their is a major problem. Why are team doctors and team managers always blissfully unaware there is a problem within their team?

We applaud the stringent anti-doping laws that are in place in Italy and the country’s continued efforts for clean and impartial sport. Let’s hope this current investigation is just and forthright and brings any perpetrators to justice, unlike Operación Puerto which still hangs like a dark cloud over the sport.