Angel Citracca, Neri Sottoli general manager, has responded angrily to a statement from the Movement for Credible Cycling, who accuses his training methods after the recent positive test of Matteo Rabottini. 

"We start from the first point - namely, the no comment on the positive test of Rabottini. The UCI issued a statement on September 12 at 17:18, what else could I add? After the official note, the whole world knew of Rabottini and I still do not know anything more (the hearing is set for late November - early December ed), then what else could I say?," he told Tuttobiciweb.

"Here are the facts: September 15th I received from Roger Legeay, president of the MPCC, an accusatory letter full of inaccuracies. He accused our team of three positives in 15 months, but it is a misplaced and inaccurate observation. They should be known that Neri Sottoli is a new Italian company and from both a legal and sporting point of view, has nothing to do with the British company that ran the team in 2013. This raises a very serious issue: we are a member of the MPCC in 2014 and find that the president of this movement does not even know the history of its members? What credibility can this movement bring about if it acts like this? We should not forget the fact that the same UCI at the time of granting licenses for the 2014 season made it clear that there was no sporting, legal and economic association between the two companies: the MPCC obviously are not aware of the regulations and I repeat, we have been accepted in their movement without them really knowing who we are.”

"With regard to the insufficient explanations I have to add another thought: rather than having immediately suspended the rider, he claimed he had not tested positive and there must have been a mistake, what else could we do as a team? We are a small team and we rely 100% on the biological passport, which we consider the best means possible to control the riders. But in reality, what can we do then if teams that have budgets greater than ours can not even keep track of their athletes? In fact, in this situation, as in others, there was a total lack of clarity. "

"Take the Pellizotti case because if he went to Astana, he had to wait a few more months before he could ride but instead with Androni can ride immediately without problems? There are both part of the MPCC? You want to talk about how Astana delayed the confession of Iglinskiy so they could ride in Lombardy and then ride home in Almaty? This would be a Credible Movement? It seems to me quite incredible. Let me add that the MPCC is flaunting the fact from the rooftops to promote itself, but our riders throughout this season have never been checked by the MPCC. Is this possible?" 

"I have asked the federal president Renato Di Rocco to have a meeting with the UCI: we want to ask two things to the International Federation: first, clarify the Movement for Credible Cycling. Does it count or not? It is recognized or not? And if so, why are some teams not affiliated with it? And then we will make ourselves available to do more in the fight against doping: we demand that we be given a path to follow in a concrete way to do even more."