Blood doping scandal: Ex-sprint star Petacchi suspended

In addition to Petacchi (45), who denied any involvement on Tuesday, the two Slovenians Kristijan Koren and Borut Bozic as well as the Croatian Kristijan Durasek are affected.

The UCI said it received information from Austrian law enforcement authorities and acted on it. Petacchi, like Koren and Bozic, who ended his career at the end of 2018, is concerned with the use of banned methods of performance enhancement in 2012 and 2013. Durasek is said to have violated anti-doping regulations in 2017.

Koren (32/Bahrain-Merida) and Durasek (31/UAE Team Emirates) are currently still active racing drivers. Koren took part in the 102nd Giro d'Italia as a teammate of Italian Vincenzo Nibali, but was removed from the race before the start of the 5th stage. Durasek drove the third stage of the Tour of California on Tuesday. Koren took part in the Tour de France eight times and Durasek five times, both always filling classic helper roles.

Petacchi: “Never had a blood transfusion” Petacchi, who has won 22 Giro stages and is now a TV pundit in his home country, said on Tuesday: “I found out that this Mark S. was a doctor at Milram when I rode there. Maybe he took care of the German drivers. But I never went to his practice in Germany or elsewhere and never had a blood transfusion. I have no idea why my name appears in the file.”

It was only on Sunday that ex-German professional Danilo Hondo (45) admitted blood doping in 2011 in an interview with the ARD doping editorial team and was then dismissed as Swiss national coach without notice. This was followed by accusations against Petacchi, which were initially published by the daily newspapers Corriere della Sera (Italy) and Le Monde (France). Seven current or former professional cyclists are now involved in the consequences of the so-called “Operation Aderlass”.

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Blood doping scandal: Ex-sprint star Petacchi suspended

In connection with the blood doping scandal surrounding the doctor Mark S., the world cycling association UCI has imposed a temporary ban on, among others, the former Italian sprint star Alessandro Petacchi.

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