Petacchi loses wins

Team Milram's star sprinter Alessandro Petacchi will have 13 victories erased from his record after the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) decision to suspend him for one year on doping charges. The Team Milram sprinter tested positive for Salbutamol, an asthma medication, during the 2007 Giro d'Italia, and while he was given credit on his suspension for a two-month period in which he did not compete, he will lose credit for victories during the 2007 Giro and all 2008 results.

The CAS ruled that the Italian would have to forfeit all "competitive results" from the Giro d'Italia, as well as "any medals, points and prizes." That would include the five stage wins, which presumably would be awarded to the runner-up, as well as the the maglia ciclamino for best rider in the points competition, for which Giro winner Danilo Di Luca finished second.

Under the ruling, Petacchi may retain "all other competitive results between 23 May 2007, and 31 October, 2007," but is disqualified for any results since 31 October 2007. Therefore, he could keep his victories in Paris-Tours, October 14, as well as his win in the first stage of the Rothaus Regio Tour in August and his two stage wins in the Vuelta a España.

He will, however, lose all of his results from 2008 which include eight victories: The GP Costa degli Etruschi, three stage wins in the Ruta del Sol, one stage win each in the Volta a Valenciana and Tirreno-Adriatico, and two stages in the Tour of Turkey.

Petacchi is considering appealing the suspension, one of his attorneys told the German press agency dpa. "That is such a ridiculous ruling that we are considering whether we should appeal to the Swiss court or the Court of Human rights in Strassbourg," attorney Maira Laufa Guardamagna said. (SW)