Both former World Champion Alessandro Ballan and his team mate Mauro Santambrogio have been suspended by BMC over on-going investigations into doping allegations stretching back to Ballan’s days with former team Lampre (with whom he turned professional back in2004). Ballan was initially suspended last year before being cleared by an internal team investigation, but in an official statement BMC now say that further details have come to light which will see both riders excluded from the 94th Giro d’Italia which begins with Time Trials on May 7. Both riders refute allegations of wrongdoing and are said to be cooperating fully with the investigation.
The BMC statement says: “BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz said new information received, along with consideration of the team’s anti-doping policy and the UCI’s Code of Conduct, means the two will be held out of competition pending further details. Both riders have been cooperating fully with the investigation, and, as we did last year, we will respect their presumption of innocence and we expect them to continue their full support to the authorities. Ochowicz said the team will monitor the investigation and both riders will have to personally address any accusations on their own.”
