Rider says that it’s not for him to judge if he will be blocked from competing in the London Olympics
With his participation in the Olympic Games potentially in the balance, as well as the possibility of a ban from cycling, Filippo Pozzato today met with the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) over claims that he has been using the services of the controversial doctor Michele Ferrari.
Speaking afterwards, the Farnese Vini-Selle Italian rider didn’t deny the association. He said that he was awaiting a decision from CONI on the matter.
“We spoke, they asked me a whole load of questions. It’s not up to me to pass judgement, let’s see what they tell me,” he told AFP.
On Saturday Italian daily La Republica claimed that the Classic specialist had worked with Ferrari, who last week was accused of supplying banned drugs to riders with the US Postal Service team, including Lance Armstrong. The US Anti Doping Agency is pushing for a lengthy ban in relation to that matter, and huge payments have been linked to the doctor.
La Republica referred to a phone call Pozzato made in the summer of 2009, where he was said to have discussed working with Ferrari and to have spoken about an annual fee of between €40,000 and €50,000.
In 2004 the doctor was convicted of sporting fraud and illegally acting as a pharmacist. Those rulings were dropped in 2006 due to the statute of limitations. However Italian riders have been forbidden for several years from working with the doctor, and can incur suspensions if they break this regulation.
While Pozzato’s lawyer is yet to deny contact between the rider and the doctor, he has said that his name has not cropped up in the Padova-based inquiry.
The rider has been targeting London 2012, but his chances of competing there is now uncertain. “Is there a chance I might miss the Olympics? It’s not for me to judge,” he said. “We will start preparing tomorrow and then we will see what happens. I am calm.”