Former world champion Ballan in doping probe
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2010, Thursday
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FORMER cycling world champion Alessandro Ballan is being probed as part of an investigation into doping in northern Italy.
"I have received notification of a request to extend the preliminary investigation by six months," Ballan, who won the 2008 world title with his former team Lampre, was quoted as saying in yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I have put everything in the hands of my lawyer," added Balan, who only found out on Tuesday he was being investigated.
Italian media reported that Ballan, now with BMC, is among 35 riders, doctors and team managers being investigated.
Italy's Lampre said members of their team were being probed, while denying any wrongdoing.
"We can confirm that some team members have received notification they are under investigation," a spokesman said.
Lampre would not say which riders were being investigated, although they denied media reports that 2004 Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego was one of them.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's preparations for the Tour de France were interrupted yesterday when the American was forced out of a low-key race in western France.
Seven-time Tour champion Armstrong pulled out of the Circuit de la Sarthe with gastro-enteritis after he missed the Milan-San Remo classic last month for the same reasons.
"Maybe we will have to change his program again. That's work for the coming days," Alain Gallopin, a sports director with Armstrong's team RadioShack, said in a team statement.
Armstrong, who had an indifferent start to the season, showed signs of improvement in last weekend's Tour of Flanders, finishing the 262 kilometer one-day race in the favorites' group.
"Lance was really keen on performing well, especially in the time trial of Wednesday afternoon," Gallopin added. "He showed his growing condition in the Tour of Flanders, where he came in with the first group sprinting for fifth place."
Overnight, Armstrong wrote on his Twitter page: "Sicker than a dog now. This sucks."
The 38-year-old Texan is now due to fly back to the United States, missing three much-needed days of racing in France and the April 18 Amstel Gold Race.
(Agencies)
"I have received notification of a request to extend the preliminary investigation by six months," Ballan, who won the 2008 world title with his former team Lampre, was quoted as saying in yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I have put everything in the hands of my lawyer," added Balan, who only found out on Tuesday he was being investigated.
Italian media reported that Ballan, now with BMC, is among 35 riders, doctors and team managers being investigated.
Italy's Lampre said members of their team were being probed, while denying any wrongdoing.
"We can confirm that some team members have received notification they are under investigation," a spokesman said.
Lampre would not say which riders were being investigated, although they denied media reports that 2004 Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego was one of them.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's preparations for the Tour de France were interrupted yesterday when the American was forced out of a low-key race in western France.
Seven-time Tour champion Armstrong pulled out of the Circuit de la Sarthe with gastro-enteritis after he missed the Milan-San Remo classic last month for the same reasons.
"Maybe we will have to change his program again. That's work for the coming days," Alain Gallopin, a sports director with Armstrong's team RadioShack, said in a team statement.
Armstrong, who had an indifferent start to the season, showed signs of improvement in last weekend's Tour of Flanders, finishing the 262 kilometer one-day race in the favorites' group.
"Lance was really keen on performing well, especially in the time trial of Wednesday afternoon," Gallopin added. "He showed his growing condition in the Tour of Flanders, where he came in with the first group sprinting for fifth place."
Overnight, Armstrong wrote on his Twitter page: "Sicker than a dog now. This sucks."
The 38-year-old Texan is now due to fly back to the United States, missing three much-needed days of racing in France and the April 18 Amstel Gold Race.
(Agencies)
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