Italy’s Anti-Narcotic Group (NAS) continues its aggressive anti-doping investigations of athletes suspected of using anabolic steroids, erythropoeitin and other performancing-enhancing drugs. The latest investigation involving a Mantovana pharmacy is starting to appear like a witch-hunt if cyclist Michael Rasmussen is to be believed. The Mantovana investigation revolves around the sale and use of testosterone, EPO, ephedrine and corticosteroids and has targeted as many as 32 cyclists and team managers.
Italian prosecutors hope to convict the professional cyclist from Denmark based on evidence from a secret recording obtained through hidden microphones at the pharmacy. However, the recordings do not contain any confession or incriminating statements by Rasmussen. Instead, they allegedly contain the sound of a glass ampoule being broken and thrown into a trash can.
The evidence against the cyclist consists only of “the recorded sound of an ampoule that is broken and then thrown into a metal garbage can. Based on this, they have concluded that on this day I have gone through infusion therapy,” according to Rasmussen.
Rasmussen admitted purchasing legal pharmaceuticals from Italian pharmacist Guido Nigrelli for his family, his pets and himself but denied buying any drug used for doping purposes. Since doping is illegal under Italian law, the stakes are high for Rasmussen and any other athletes convicted of using PEDs in Italy.
Rasmussen is the most high profile athlete in the investgation.
Rasmussen has a controversial history in the sport. He was disqualified from the 2007 Tour de France while he was wearing the yellow jersey because he was less-than-honest about his whereabouts in the days before the race. The “whereabouts” rule requires that athletes subject to anti-doping protocols provide testers with advance notice of their physical location (whereabouts) so that they will theoretically always be available for random, unannounced testing.
Source:
Cycling News. (August 30, 2011). Rasmussen disputes secret recordings in doping investigation. Retrieved from http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rasmussen-disputes-secret-recordings-in-doping-investigation
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