Yesterday the Mantova trial began and will resume on January 24. Judge Giuditta Silvestrini has decided that she will allow all documentary evidence and so recording of damning phone conversations may be used as evidence against riders like Alessandro Ballan in the case that is centred around the Lampre team and pharmacist Guido Nigrelli.

The Mantova case has been a drawn-out affair but now there is finally some progress. Yesterday the trial began in the case that involves 28 riders, trainers, pharmacists and doctors that have been accused of doping-related activities.

The affair is centred around pharmacist Guido Nigrelli who is said to have assisted several Lampre riders in doping practices in 2008 and 2009. Nigrelli, physical trainer Sergio Gelati, Roberto Messina, former Lampre rider Paolo Bossoni and former amateur rider Sebastian Gilmozzi are accused of trafficking doping products, while Lampre manager Saronni, directeurs sportifs Maurizio Piovani and Fabrizio Bontempi, and former rider Mariano Piccoli are accused of procuring doping products.

Past and current riders including Alessandro Ballan, Damiano Cunego, Michael Rasmussen, Mauro Santambrogio, Pietro Caucchioli, Marzio Bruseghin, Marco Bandiera, Daniele Pietropolli, Manuele Mori, Massimiliano Mori and Mauro Da Dalto stand accused of using doping products.

The case will be resumed on January 24 and yesterday Judge Giuditta Silvestrini ruled that she will allow all kind of evidence. This includes recordings of phone conversations that have been gathered during the lengthy inquiry into the alleged doping activities.

Some of those indicate that Ballan underwent a blood transfusion in 2009 but the former world champion has said that it was a case of ozone therapy to treat cytomegalovirus. At the moment, he is the only rider to face a sporting sanction as the Italian Olympic Committee has requested a two-year ban for him, with the hearing set to take place on January 16.

A 167-page analysis of the amassed evidence will play a crucial role during the trial. It is said to accuse of Cunego of EPO use but the Italian recently reiterated that he has done nothing wrong.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) has entered into a civil lawsuit against the accused in the Mantova trial, seeking compensation of €1 million for damage to the image of Italian sport.