Team Liquigas-Doimo has decided to open its training camps up to the press in order to dispel any rumours over doping within the team, according to la Repubblica. The team, one of two Italian teams in the ProTour, includes riders such as Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti.
"We want to dispel any doubt about our cleanliness," said the team manager Roberto Amadio in a press statement.
"We want to show everyone how we work in our team,” he continued, “and dispel any doubt about our transparency and cleanliness. In recent years, someone has enjoyed tarnishing our results, putting question marks on our athletes’ characters. For this presentation held at Passo San Pellegrino, we invited the press to be present during our retreat: we have nothing to hide and we will be happy to prove it."
Amadio referred specifically to accusations made by outspoken doping critic Amore e Vita – Conad team manager Ivano Fanini. In August last year Fanini accused Liquigas riders Vincenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti of having worked with notorious doctor Michele Ferrari before the Tour de France; accusations that were strenuously denied at the time.
Nibali finished a career-best seventh at the Tour, while Pelizotti won the polka-dot Mountains jersey and the award for most aggressive rider.
“Come and see,” said Amadio.
"We believe that this is an active contribution to restore credibility to our sport,” he said. “Our team has always worked in this direction: the iron discipline taken against the riders and the choice not to rely on external “preparatori” we are taking important actions and not just words."