CONI recommends sentence for Muraglia and Kalc

Yesterday, Giuseppe Muraglia and Alessandro Kalc each met with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutors, Ettore Torri and Franco Consenza.

The prosecutors recommended a four-year sentence for Muraglia (Acqua & Sapone), who tested positive for hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) in a medical control on March 4, after winning the 22nd Clasica de Almeria. CONI's interrogation lasted for two hours, in which time it also questioned Muraglia over the Oil for Drugs affair.

"Danilo who?" asked the 27 year-old from Puglia in regards to the 2004 investigation and raids. At the time, there was a telephone interception where Muraglia talked of 'Danilo' Di Luca. (For more on Oil for Drugs, read NAS blitz nets nada and NAS raid Giro again from 2004.)

"I am calm and I have clarified my situation," explained Muraglia to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I don't know who Danilo is..." His attorney, Paolo Viviani (the same attorney for Michele Scarponi), gave his opinion. "We have contested the results from the positive finding at Almeria. Regarding Oil for Drugs, Muraglia has explained his relationship with Carlo Santuccione."

The prosecutors recommended a life sentence for 50 year-old, ex-mountain biker Kalc for his involvement in Operación Puerto. The Italian allegedly worked as a courier and a contact for the riders in Italy to communicate with Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The sentence is based on World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) codes for "trafficking of all prohibited substances and methods" (Article 2.7).