News for December 17, 1999

New doping case opened in Italy

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

The public prosecutor Giovanni Spinosa in Bologna has opened an investigation, including 21 professional cyclists, for the possible dealing and consumption of doping substances. The riders are considered only as "affected" by the suspected crimes, and not suspects themselves. Spinosa has requested to bring 16 other persons, doctors, pharmacists, sport directors and others, to court.

The names of the riders were published by the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday. They are: Abraham Olano, Fernando Escartín, Mario Cipollini, Ivan Gotti, Paolo Svoldelli, Pavel Tonkov, Axel Merckx, Enrico Zaina, Gianni Faresin, Alessandro Bertolini, Gianluca Bortolami, Beat Zberg, Kevin Livingston, Armand De las Cuevas, Andreas Kappes, Giorgio Furlan, Daniele Pontoni, Filippo Simeoni and Eddy Mazzoleni. Two retired riders, Tony Rominger and Claudio Chiappucci are also mentioned. The above riders have all been clients of Dr Michele Ferrari, who is one of the main suspects in the case.

Three Italian specialists, professors Plebani, Cazzola and Ferrara, have found that a significant number of riders have had hematocrit levels higher than the allowed 50 per cent, as well as high levels of iron in organs such as the liver and pancreas. "Some of the hematological parameters, like the hematocrit and iron levels of the athletes, show danger to their health. We are talking about something not associated with natural variations, but alterations due to the consumption of different substances," indicated professor Plebani, the medical chief of the laboratory in Padova.

Kelme's judicial adviser, Juan Más indicates that the team will take legal action against the information published by Il Corriere dello Sport and the Spanish sports paper, As.

"I have never taken Erythropoietin (EPO). I went to Dr Ferrari like everyone else, and everybody in the peloton said that you became faster if you went to him," Pavel Tonkov commented to Italian news agency ANSA.

Also two-time Giro winner, Ivan Gotti strongly rejected any doping involvement: "My medical facts have been controlled three times by the UCI medical commission and twice by the medical commission of the Italian union, and I am under permanent control by my team doctor. Nothing irregular has been discovered. I am quite calm," he told la Gazzetta dello Sport.

Finally, a spokesman for the German cycling union has said that no actions will be taken against Andreas Kappes. "We have a doping case only when there is a positive laboratory result and a positive B-test."

Men's Health stops

Courtesy of BritproNews

The third division British team, Team Men's Health have told their riders that the team will not exist next season after just one year of sponsorship. The team had a mixed season with New Zealander, Gordon McCauley taking the Premier Calendar and the team finishing as the top ranked UK team in the Prutour. However they also suffered internal problems as Team Manager Tony Mills, rider Justin Clarke and finally McCauley all left the team under a cloud following disagreements with team owner Jane Williams. This has left some top riders, including Welshmen Huw Pritchard and Paul Esposti as well as former National Champion Colin Sturgess without backing for next year.

It is believed some of the riders are still awaiting pay for the last few months and the BCF is involved in retrieving these costs both from Jane Williams' company, Synergy Business Solutions, or through the bond the team gave to the UCI when they registered at the start of the year.

Ex-Champ takes the co-lead in Lotto

Lotto has engaged 1984 World Champion Claude Criquielion as sports director alongside Jef Braeckevelt on a one year contract. Lotto's sponsorship of the team will go on for at least another two years. "My philosophy is called cooperation. Jef and I are equal partners," said Criquielion to Belgian newsagency Belga.

The duties will be further discussed but so far it seems that Braeckevelt will take care of the early season racing on foreign ground while each of the directors will be in charge in his own home area. Criquielion will take care of the Wallonian classics while Braeckevelt will direct the Flemish ones.

Lance update

In yesterday's news we posted a small note informing readers of the "Time Man of the Year" internet poll (go to: http://www.pathfinder.com/time/moy/ ). It seems that this has had some impact, as Lance Armstrong (note: capitals) has moved up from sixth in the GC to way out in front - nearly double the votes of Kenneth Starr on the last check.

Although we're not sure how much weight the poll carries in terms of deciding who is Time Magazine's "Man of the Year", every little bit counts. So, to all you Lance fans - stop working and get out there and vote!

Swiss track ranking 1999

Erwin Schudel of the Swiss cycling union has compiled the following ranking of points racing at the Oerlikon outdoor velodrome:

1. Bruno Risi                69.0 pts
2. Roger Furrer              57.0
3. Markus Kammermann         55.5
4. Franco Marvulli           55.0
5. Frazer Mc Master (Nzl)    45.0
6. Hayden Godfrey (Nzl)      35.0
7. Kurt Betschart            34.0
8. Peter Jörg                27.0
9. André Seiler              23.0
10. Alexander Aeschbach 
    Martin Bösch             17.0
12. Patrik Merk 
    Christian Weber          16.0
14. Marcel Pfister           13.0
15. Patrik Fäh               12.0
16. Jan Brunner              11.5
17. Beat Obrist
    Simon Ganz                9.0
19. Markus Blessing
    Marcel Dunkel             8.0
21. Mario Vonhof (Ger)        5.0
22. Jan Brunner
    Adrian Osterwalder        4.0
23. Michael Langhart
    Claudio Treig             3.5
25. David Held
    Reto Lauper
    Marcel Peterer            3.0
28. Ralph Liehner (Ger)       2.5
29. Pajazit Uruglica          2.0
30. Erik Weispfennig (Ger)    1.5
31. Marc Hartmann
    Pascal Manser
    Ralph Zimmermann          1.0
34. Michael Roth              0.5

Courtesy of Ernst Bretscher/Veloinfo