Former world under 23 champion Dmitro Grabovskyy may be just 24 years of age, but the Ukrainian has admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has been battling with drink problems.
The winner in Madrid in 2005 looked set for a top pro career after landing that victory, then going on to take a stage in the Baby Giro, the overall classification in the Giro delle Regioni and his second consecutive European TT victory in 2006.
However he failed to land any significant results during a contract with Quick Step between 2007 and 2008; he competed with the ISD Neri team last season, but also without any great success. He is not listed on their roster for 2010.
“After some disappointments with Quick Step I ended up on the wrong path,” he admitted. “I was bored and went after training to the coast to party and to drink. I twice escaped death by alcohol poisoning. But I drank vodka and never used drugs.”
Fortunately, he says that he is back to full health. “This turbulent period is over…my life is rehabilitated. Now there’s only water in my refrigerator.”
It’s uncertain as to what are his plans for this season.