Saunier Duval - Scott released a statement today saying that: "After Riccardo
Riccò ´s arrest by French gendarmes, Saunier Duval's General Manager, Mauro Gianetti, said he was shocked and bitter about
this sad incident, adding that he understood the Tour chief´s aggressive words and that he felt sorry for being cheated by
riders he trusted. Gianetti did a personal investigation and consequently lost faith in Riccò but also in Piepoli because
of a violation of the team's ethics code. As a result, Mauro Gianetti immediately fired these two riders."
The statement
contínued: "By accepting the due course of these procedures, the Team Manager and the team decidedly reject doping practices:
"We have always paid close attention to what our riders are doing, and have always demanded an irreproachable attitude to
their profession and to our code of ethics. All our riders gave us guarantees that they were clean. Riccò swore on his mother's
head that he had never turned to illegal substances or means to improve his performance. Despite all the efforts made both
internally and from outside the team we have failed to avoid this deplorable situation. We are the victims of the deceitful
behaviour of those who put our sponsors' investments and the jobs of so many honest people at risk with the loathsome purpose
of improving their cycling performance."
French authorities said that they have found syrings and medicines at Riccò's
hotel room. The 24 year old was released today after he had spend the night at a French police station. Riccò was interrogated
for 90 minutes before court in Foix (France). Riccò denied he had taken performance enhancing drugs but the judge instructed an
investigation against the number 2 of this years Giro d'Italia for the use of "forbidden substances."
In an interview with Italian tv station RAI, Riccò said French police "searched
my bags but only found some vitamins that we all use and so they decided to let me go home."
Riccò denied the use of epo during the court hearing and said he could understand
that he was sacked by Saunier Duval. "Thats a normal procedure, thats what all teams do in a situation like this." Riccò concluded
saying that he "will come back stronger as ever."
