THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Found guilty of sports fraud, Ferrari gets suspended sentence
Doctor Michele Ferrari, who has worked with several top cyclists including six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, was found guilty of sporting fraud and given a 12-month suspended sentence by a court in Bologna, Italy, on Friday.
However Ferrari, the former doctor of several cycling teams - most notably Gewiss in the mid 1990's - was acquitted of distributing doping products which could endanger health.
Just 10 days ago, Italian prosecutor Lorenzo Gestri had recommended a 14-month prison sentence for Ferrari for administering performance-enhancing substances to cyclists.
On leaving the court, Ferrari, who used to work under notorious Italian sports doctor Francesco Conconi, declared his innocence.
"I certainly did not expect this sentence because I am innocent of this whole affair," he said.
Ferrari's lawyer Dario Bolognesi promised an immediate appeal, and emphasized that his client had been acquitted of the most serious charge of distributing doping products.
"We will appeal,” Bolognesi said. “The most serious accusation has goneand the whole trial is linked to the interpretation of standards in doping and sporting fraud, and to the comments of rider Filippo Simeoni."
Armstrong said he was disappointed by the court's decision."Dr. Ferrari has been a longtime friend and trusted adviser to me and the USPS team, during which time he never suggested, prescribed or provided me with any performance-enhancing drugs," Armstrong said in a written statement issued after the verdict. "I was pleased to hear that Dr. Ferrari was acquitted of the charge of providing illegal drugs to athletes. I am not surprised by that verdict."However, I have always said that I have zero-tolerance for anyone convicted of using or facilitating the use of performance-enhancing drugs. As a result of today's developments, the USPS team and I have suspended our professional affiliation with Dr. Ferrari as we await the release of the full verdict, which will contain Judge Maurizio Passerini's reasoning."In the meantime, I personally wish the very best for Dr. Ferrari and his family during this difficult time."
Meanwhile, Simeoni, once a client and now a main accuser, never claimed that Ferrari had given him doping products, but categorically asserted that the doctor had both taught him how to use the products and to avoid positive dope tests. Simeoni, currently in Verona for the world road race championships, said the court's judgment had vindicated his decision to speak out.
"From a human point of view, I regret Ferrari's sentence but it showsmy statements were justified and that there is justice in this world. You just have to be patient," said the Domina Vacanze rider. "Everyone knew what was going on but no one said anything. But I spoke out and I am happy that my comments finally bore fruit, especially after the attacks from Lance Armstrong and other cyclists."
The 33-year-old Simeoni's statements to prosecutors have won him nofavors in the professional peloton, and Armstrong especially singled out the Italian at the end of this year's Tour de France (see "Mercado wins, but Armstrong move takes center stage").
The acrimony came to a head in July's race after Simeoni said he still intended to sue Armstrong for defamation over comments made by him in French newspaper Le Monde in July 2003.
The article quoted Armstrong as saying that Simeoni had "lied" when he gave evidence to investigators claiming that Ferrari had shown him how to use the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) without getting caught. Simeoni subsequently filed a defamation suit against the American.
Armstrong publicly acknowledged in 2001 that he had been working withFerrari, after sports writer David Walsh, of the Sunday Times of London, fully documented the relationship on the eve of that year’sTour de France.
Ferrari was the doctor with the Gewiss team in 1994 when three of the team's riders took all the podium places in the tough Belgian one-day classic.
After Ferrari later revealed the secret of his team's success he was sacked, but he continued having contact with several top athletes over the years, including Armstrong.
