There was no organized doping at the Lampre team. In the Mantova case, chief prosecutor Antonino Conderelli has found no "direct evidence" linking the Italian team with alleged organized doping. Manager Giuseppe Saronni and Damiano Cunego were acquitted, but Alessandro Ballan faces a possible suspended prison sentence.
Conderelli, head of the investigation since 2008, has reached that there were only individual responsibilities in the Lampre team, not an organized doping, and thus has acquitted the leaders, manager Saronni, sports directors Fabrizio Bontempi and Maurizio Piovani, team doctor José Ibarguren, and riders Damiano Cunego, Mauro Santambrogio, Mauro Da Dalto, Mirco Lorenzetto and Michael Rasmussen. Of the 28 people involved, including 16 Lampre riders, 13 other individuals face charges ranging from 12 to 28 months in prison.
Former world champion Ballan was not acquitted and faces up to two years in prison and a fine of 40,000 euros. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he is accused of prohibited practices (blood transfusion) in a network that was led by pharmacist Guido Negrelli for whom Condorelli asks for four years and six months in prison. Coach Sergio Gelati (two years and six months) and ruders Marzio Bruseghin, Pietro Caucchioli, Simone Ponzi, Massimiliano Mori, Manuele Mori, Paolo Bossoni, Marco Bandiera and Francesco Gavazzi also face potential prison sentences of one year and eight months.
Only Manuele Mori is still riding for Lampre-Merida in 2016; Ponzi (Southeast) has joined the Polish CCC team, Gavazzi rode for Southeast this year and has been rumoured to join Androni which already has Bandiera in the team. In January 2014, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) banned Nigrelli for life while Ballan received a two-year ban.
The Mantova trial did not start until 2014 although the investigation began in 2008. The process is not yet complete as the defense will present its arguments on December 11 and the final hearing and possible sentences are expected on December 18.
Matic VEBER 28 years | today |
Jose Antonio GIMENEZ DIAS 47 years | today |
Raoul LIEBREGTS 49 years | today |
Jay DUTTON 31 years | today |
Christophe PREMONT 35 years | today |
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