一定期間更新がないため広告を表示しています
permalink | - | -
Davide Rebellin faces a legal battle following his summons by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Wednesday based on a positive anti-doping control at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) retested the samples taken last fall and found the 37-year-old Italian had the blood booster Erythropoietin (EPO) CERA in his system.
"My conscience is clear, I did not take anything," he told television reporters. "I will continue forward with all of my strength to demonstrate my innocence with respect to these charges."
Rebellin will have a chance to explain himself in Rome on May 4 at 12:00, the date and time of his hearing with the Italian Olympic Committee. The committee also prohibited the winner of last week's Flèche Wallonne from competing effective immediately.
Rebellin became professional in 1992 and raced with trade team Gerolsteiner during time including the 2008 Olympics. Over the off-season, he switched to Gianni Savio's Diquigiovanni team. Savio planned to take Rebellin to the Giro d'Italia to fight for the classification leader's maglia rosa in the opening days, but he temporarily suspended the rider from the team.
"It is a huge loss for us on a sporting level, for the Giro, but it is also big moral blow. Something seems strange," said Savio to Cyclingnews.
Savio spoke Wednesday morning to Rebellin, who was at his home in Monte Carlo. He was preparing to leave for Verona, Italy, to speak with his lawyer.
"It seemed impossible that he could have committed an error like this. He is well respected, has high standards and knows clearly that doping is not only a sporting offence, but also a criminal offense."
Savio explained that Rebellin plans to will wait for the counter-analysis of his B sample, to be performed on May 28.
Rebellin and German Stefan Schumacher are two of six athletes who tested positive for Erythropoietin (the other four are believed to be non-cyclists). Rebellin finished second in the men's Olympic road race behind Spaniard Samuel Sánchez.