Cyclist Scarponi called before Italy's
anti-doping commission
(AP) - Cyclist Michele Scarponi was
summoned Thursday to a hearing before the Italian Olympic Committee for
alleged involvement in a Spanish blood-doping scandal.
Scarponi, who rides for the Acqua & Sapone team, will appear before
CONI's doping commission Wednesday on charges of having used or
attempted to use a banned substance or method.
Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso will
have a similar hearing on Wednesday. The Discovery Channel rider has
denied doping.
Scarponi has allegedly been linked to Operation Puerto, a Spanish probe
started last May when sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, coach Manolo Saiz
and six other people were arrested in Madrid on suspicion of providing
doping services to cyclists.
The investigation implicated more than 50 cyclists and led to pre-race
favorites Jan Ullrich and Basso and seven others riders being excluded
from last year's Tour de France. The allegations also forced two teams
to dissolve when their sponsors backed out.
Acqua & Sapone director Palmiro Masciarelli said he knew that Scarponi
was connected to the case before hiring him this season, and that he
checked with CONI before giving the rider a license.
"A month ago, CONI said there was no problem. And as far as we're
concerned there is still no problem," Masciarelli said. "He told me
again that he's clean and said he's willing to undergo any sort of DNA
test to show it."
Masciarelli said Scarponi has not been suspended.
"If something new comes out on May 2, then we'll see," he said.
The 27-year-old Scarponi has two victories this season -- one stage and
the final classification in the weeklong Coppi-Bartali race last month.
He's second in the Giro del Trentino overall standings.
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