Italian cyclist Fabio Taborre is unable to find any "logic" in his positive doping control and shows his helplessness before the lawsuit for damages filed against him and Davide Appollonio by team manager Gianni Savio and the rest of the Androni-Sidermec team. "I am innocent," he says.

Last July, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced the provisional suspension of Taborre who had tested positive for FG-4592, a banned product that stimulates the endogenous production of EPO. It was the second case of Androni after Appollonio who had tested positibe for EPO, and the team was finally suspended for a month . The Italian manager has described Taborre as "another stupid criminal" and the team recently sued the two rider.

Taborre, 30 has been professional since 2008 and is incredulous about the situation. "It's an incredible story, nothing that has happened to me since June 16 has any logic," he told the La Repubblica newspaper . "I can not explain my values. After that control they did not change substantially, my hematocrit was not increased and the hemoglobin remained the same. I would have proof of what I say, but I feel that I have suffered sabotage: the substance is in powder form and can be dissolved in coffee, but I do not know. I do not really know what to think. FG-4592 was out on the list of prohibited substances on June 1, I was tested on June 16 and I got the notification in late July," he explained.

Riders and staff of Androni-Venezuela signed internal rules in December last year that riders would be fined 100,000 euros if they got involved in a doping case. Savio has kept his word. "For the first time in history, a team will sue a doped cyclist," Savio told BiciCiclismo recently. According to the Italian daily, the demand is now 250,000 euros, an amount that is outside Taborre's reach. "I was not at the notary, but one day I received that letter at home and signed it. It's true. They take advantage. I do not have that money. The house is untouchable, right? My life is ruined. I had the minimum wage, earning 30,000 euros a year. My career is over. I wonder if this is the way to combat doping. If it is right to use the term "criminal" immediately as Savio did in the newspapers, even before I knew what had happened. I am innocent, but it is useless to speak. I know that," he said.

Savio, meanwhile, recalls the agreement: "All riders signed an addendum to the contract before a notary, with a fine of 100,000 euros in the event of being involved in a doping case. The position was inflexible, we explained our position and we warned everyone that our team has a zero tolerance stance."

Taborre (1985) debuted in Savio's Serramenti-Androni tam in 2009 and 2010 and then rode for Acqua & Sapone (2011-2012) and Vini Fantini/Neri Sottoli (2013-2014). His last victory was in the 2012 Tour of Austria after he had won the GP Camaiore and the Memorial Marco Pantani in 2011. He has done two editions of the Giro d'Italia.