CONI doping controls carried out on Giro's stars

Last night the anti-doping branch of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) carried out surprise controls, upon request of NAS (Italy's Anti-Narcotics Group), on Riccardo Riccò, Gilberto Simoni, Maglia Rosa Danilo Di Luca and Eddy Mazzoleni. The four cyclists were required to provide blood and urine samples.

"I don't feel monitored, I am calm," said Di Luca to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Has Prosecutor [Ettore] Torri ask to interrogate me? I have nothing to be afraid of." Di Luca was recorded in several phone conversations with Mazzoleni in which he allegedly talked about doping products, the investigation was dubbed 'oil for drugs' and led to Di Luca's non-participation in the 2004 Tour de France.

The CONI control was considered 'out of competition' like the one a rider would have when visited at home by his federation. However, According to UCI rules and WADA codes, these out of competition controls may only happen up to three days before the race start or after midnight on the last day, all other controls are considered 'in race' and fall under the authority of the UCI.

"The team doctor told me that the control was not allowed, because it was during the race and only UCI or WADA are able to carry it out. But since I have nothing to hide I did it."