Gerolsteiner places Moletta on inactive status

Team Gerolsteiner has removed Andrea Moletta from the Giro d'Italia and placed him on inactive status, following his father's involvement in an anti-doping action. He did not start Wednesday's 11th Giro stage "for private reasons", it was said Wednesday morning.

Moletta, 29, informed the team Tuesday evening that his father was one of several passengers in a vehicle en route to the Giro, when he was controlled and questioned by the Italian Guardia Finanza (which is responsible for anti-doping enforcement).

Team manager Hans-Michael Holczer immediately got in touch with Italian authorities but was unable to obtain any further information. Moletta denied any involvement but agreed to being removed from the race.

"Even if the presence of Moletta senior is proved to be totally coincidental, we handled immediately as required by our strict Code of conduct," Holczer said in a press statement. "Andrea will not ride any further races until the circumstances are explained."