The LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini team has suspended its rider Gabriele Bosisio pending the outcome of the ‘B-sample’ counteranalysis, but has expressed surprise at the positive test. The Milanese rider continues to maintain his innocence.
“Our team is abashed incredulous over the presumed positive of the athlete Gabriele Bosisio,” said an LPR team statement, “but consistent with the absolutely rigorous line of antidoping, the measure taken against the athlete is temporary suspension pending the counteranalysis.”
Bosisio has ridden for the LPR team since 2004, when it was known as Tenax, and his first big result came in the 2007 Giro del Lazio where he outsprinted Emanuele Sella (who has also been suspended for doping recently). In 2008, he really burst on to the scene with solo victory on stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia at the first summit finish to Pescoconstazo; he then took the leader’s pink jersey a week later at Alpe di Pampeago.
2009 had been a bit quieter in terms of personal results, but Bosisio rode strongly in support of teammate Danilo Di Luca’s Giro campaign; Di Luca, of course, has since tested positive for CERA.
“Shocked and disbelieving,” the team statement continued, “we hope that the counteranalysis will account for the rider who says he is innocent. We hope so because after six years of work we were able to appreciate the athlete and the man.”