Alesandro Ballan’s long-running implication in the Mantova doping affair is moving closer to a conclusion, with prosecutors from the Italian Olympic Committee CONI requesting a two year ban for the BMC Racing Team rider.
Ballan, who won the world road race championships in 2008, is one of many former Lampre team riders and staff who have been implicated in the doping investigation.
According to CONI, he has been charged with ‘violation of Article 2.2 of the WADA Code, on the basis of the documents submitted by the public prosecutor of Mantua.” The committee wants him to serve a two year ban.
Two others implicated in the investigation also learned today what CONI is seeking for their involvement. The doctor Guido Nigrelli has been charged with violation of articles 2.7 and 2.8 of the WADA Code, and a lifetime ban has been requested.
This would apply to any positions within a number of sporting federations, as well as attending sports facilities and events in Italy. A seven year ban has been requested for another doctor, Fiorenzo Aegean Bonazzi.
Ballan joined the BMC Racing Team in 2010 but was sidelined in May 2011, along with then-teammate Mauro Santambrogio.
They had both been implicated in the investigation, but when the investigation appeared to stall each were permitted to return to competition.
In July the duo were amongst 27 individuals named by La Gazzetta dello Sport as being officially indicted in connection to the case. He withdrew from the Tour de Wallonie but team press officer Georges Lucinger said that this was to do with injury rather than the investigation.
He said at the time that there was no suggestion of a suspension from racing. “We as a team haven't been notified about anything so there is no reasons to talk about any measures,” he told VeloNation then.
The team has been contacted by VeloNation about CONI’s request for a two year suspension, but has not yet responded.
Update: see the BMC Racing Team's response here