Team says Mantova investigation relates to his previous team and that due process must be followed
Reacting to today’s news that the Italian Olympic Committee CONI is seeking a two year ban for Alessandro Ballan in connection to the Mantova doping investigation, the rider’s BMC Racing Team has said that it will wait to see the outcome before taking action.
The squad has ruled out sidelining the rider, although he and the rest of the team are currently on a break from racing anyway.
It laid out its position in a statement.
“The BMC Racing Team is aware of, and will continue to monitor, CONI's legal proceedings involving Alessandro Ballan. Prior to a decision by the relevant authorities, the team will rely upon internal policies to determine the status of Ballan,” it said.
“At this time, no decision to remove him from active status has been made.”
Ballan joined the BMC Racing Team in 2010 but was sidelined in May 2011, along with then-teammate Mauro Santambrogio.
They had both been implicated in Mantova investigation, which dated back to their time with the Lampre team. However they were permitted to return to competition when the Italian enquiry appeared to stall.
Santambrogio left the team at the end of last season and then returned a positive A sample for EPO this year. Ballan continued with the BMC Racing Team but was under the microscope again in July when he was amongst
27 individuals named by La Gazzetta dello Sport as being officially indicted in connection to the case.
His current squad doesn’t see a need to suspend him prior to an outcome. “As has been previously stated, the charges stem from a time period prior to Ballan's involvement with the BMC Racing Team. Out of respect for the athlete and for due process, the BMC Racing Team will not make specific comments about the case in the absence of new facts or significant announcements by the court,” it said.
“The BMC Racing Team is committed to a strict anti-doping philosophy and clean sport.”