Giovanni Visconti denies the reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport about his relationship with doctor Michele Ferrari and his alleged use of doping substances, wanting to protect his own image and the one of Movistar Team with whom he had no connection at the time of the alleged events.

After Marco Marcato and Jose Joaquin Rojas were the first to deny the reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Giovanni Visconti has become the third rider to deny that he has had links with banned doctor Michele Ferrari as reported in the Italian newspaper. The Movistar rider has issued a statement to clarify his stance.

"First I want to clarify that I have already had occasion to clarify my behavior to the sports authourities and have been absolutely transparent," he writes. "In terms of the investigation that has been carried out by the publi prosecutor in Padua, I am amazed and outraged by the violation of the confidentiality of investigations. However, I deny that the words of the article reflect reality.

"With regard to the blood values that are described in the article as indications of alleged doping, I would point out that such changes actually always existed and physiologically normal. Also because, among other things, if they were not, I should have been sanctioned due to violations of the biological passport which has been subject to expert review byt eh UCI but they have never taken any initiative.

"What has been reported in the newspaper is an absolutely subjectiveinterpretation of the facts that have been gathered by those who completed the investigation without the necessary expertise. I remember that the interpreters of those conversations are the same persons who searched my house at night, including the room where my baby slept, but found nothing suspicious.

"Therefore I reserve the right to take legal action to protect my integrity and I repeat that my behavior has always been based on respect for the rules and the highest values ​​of fair play."

In the past Visconti has served a three-month ban for links with Michele Ferrari but the Movistar rider has always denied to have used any forbidden substances.