The Astana Cycling Team announced in a press statement Friday that it will "suspend temporarily its Italian rider Eddy Mazzoleni in order to protect the team and to respect the [ProTour] ethical code in force."
The suspension is in effect while the team awaits results of the CONI investigation. Mazzoleni, third in this year's Giro and a former member of the 2004 Saeco squad, will be heard by CONI on July 4.
CONI has evidence allegedly implicating Mazzoleni in the form of documents that are recorded SMS messages associated with the Oil for Drugs scandal. The rider from Bergamo sent messages to doctor Carlo Santuccione mentioning Danilo Di Luca and hormone use. "Hello it is Eddy I wanted to ask you when next week I am able to come for the three trainings... Bye and thanks," read one SMS message from Mazzoleni that Italy's Anti-Narcotics Group (NAS) believes refers to illicit products.
