Filippo Pozzato’s doping trails restricting him from riding the Olympic Games
Filippo Pozzato might miss the chance to represent his nation at the 2012 Olympic Games after he has been summoned to appear ahead of CONI.
The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) has called the cyclist to clarify his links with Dr. Michele Ferrari who has been charged for doping by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Former American cyclist Lance Armstrong and Team RadioShack-Nissan General Manager Johan Bruyneel have also been accused by the USADA.
"If you go to see him in his own house, then you're responsible," Pozzato noted.
"You don't have a gun pointed to your head. I wanted to go to Ferrari. We're grown-ups aren't we?"
Filippo’s lawyer Pierfilippo Capello denied all the allegations and noted that the cyclist never had any associations with Dr. Michele Ferrari.
Capello told Tuttobici, "We've checked several times with magistrates in Padova and in other places where there are ongoing anti-doping inquiries, and my client is not listed in any register of those under investigation".
“From a criminal point of view, at the moment there is no investigation involving Pozzato”.
“The same can be said from the sporting point of view: we have no news of an investigation from either CONI or the Italian Cycling Federation”.
Ferrari faced a ban by the Italian Cycling Federation on the basis of evidence that suggests his involvement in providing doping products to other athletes.
However, the cyclist was freed from all the allegations in 2006 until the re-opening of investigation by USADA this year.
The 30-year-old started his professional pursuit with Team Mapei-Quick Step in 2000 and stayed with the team by the end of 2002 season.
He also rode for Team Fassa Bortolo (2003-04), Team Quick Step-Innergetic (2005-06), Team Liquigas (2007-08), Team Katusha (2009-11) and accepted an offer from Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia for 2012 season.
Filippo is having a fine season with a first place finish at the GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano along with a second place finish at the Tour of Flanders 2012.
He was recently seen in action at the Tour De Slovenie and even though his performance was not good enough, the cyclist travelled enough kilometres to help him through the Olympics.
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