News Briefs: Ferrari called before Italian Olympic panel; Tafi re-ups with Mapei

By VeloNews Interactive wire services , Copyright AFP2001

Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari has been summoned to testify in front of the anti-doping panel of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), the panel announced Monday.

Ferrari, set to face doping-related allegations in a trial next month and the subject of a separate probe by Ferrara magistrates, has been asked to appear on November 21 after CONI received documents relating to the two cases.

Ferrari, based in Ferrara and a pupil of another controversial physician Professor Francesco Conconi, has been the mentor of many leading cyclists including America’s three-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

In documents submitted in evidence to the Bologna court many top riders have been named as having been administered substances that could be dangerous to their health including Tony Rominger, Axel Merckx, Ivan Gotti, Beat Zberg, Fernando Escartin, Mario Cipollini and Abraham Olano.

Tafi signs on for another yearItalian cyclist Andrea Tafi has extended his contract with Mapei for another year, the team announced in a news release on Monday.

The 35-year-oldTuscan is probably looking at his final season in 2002, after having recovered from injuries that required surgery last May.

Copyright AFP2001

Carmichael talk in New YorkIn New York on Wednesday, November 14, Lance Armstrong’s personal coach Chris Carmichael will be giving a short talk on training and signing copies of the recently released book, “The CTS Collection: Training Tips for Triathletes and Cyclists,” published by VeloPress. The talk starts at 7 p.m. at Toga Bicycle Shop, 110 West End Avenue, New York City. For more details, please contact Toga at 212/799-9625.