Mauro Gianetti (Scott American Beef/ ex-Saunier Duval manager)
"I'm not surprised by the other two positive Riccardo, because the CERA lasts a month and then it was unusual that he had been caught only twice. That of Leonardo, however, is a matter that affects me deeply ...", Mauro Gianetti said to Tuttosport. Gianetti sacked Piepoli in July for breaking the team's code of ethics after being unsatisfied with his reponse to the earlier positive of Riccardo Riccò.
Gianetti was disappointed by Piepoli, who he hoped would be a director for the team in the future. "I thought that Piepoli could become a director of our team, one that could explain to new recruits how to stay afloat for many years with commitment and professionalism. It was a grave mistake that I made."
"Piepoli and Riccò did all the damage," Gianetti said, defending his record on doping. "In the past I gave a great opportunity to David Millar [after Millar confessed to having taken EPO and served a two-year suspension] and I do not regret it. But cycling has betrayed me so disgracefully, nullifying years of working with youth, and humanitarian initiatives in the third world. I am really disgusted."
Thomas Back (IOC Vice President)
"This is dramatic because it shows that cycling is far away from achieving a change of consciousness," Bach told the Frankfurter Allgemeine on Tuesday. "The stupid boldness apparently is continuing. We have to ask ourselves whether it is not the time to order a pause for thought (from the Olympics) for cycling."
Jens Voigt (CSC-Saxo Bank)
"I hope that this isn't the last nail in the coffin, which will seal the fate of cycling. It is still only the A sample and we have to wait for the B sample If it is true, then this is a tragedy of the largest proportions."
Linus Gerdemann (Team Columbia)
"If this is true, the it is of course shameless and impudent. I just don't know what to say. That was thoughtless against all of cycling. You don't just damage your own career but also do massive damage to an entire sport. It is very depressing that there are still people who are destroying cycling."
Gerry van Gerwen (manager of Team Milram)
"This is unbelievable. I am very disappointed. I believe that we must have intelligent controls."
Baden Cooke (Barloworld)
"It's really hard when you keep hearing all this stuff, but I guarantee you the sport has never been cleaner," Cooke told the Herald Sun. "There's probably only five blokes out of 200 doing it, but they're the reason the sport's in turmoil and the reason there's a lot of really good riders who can't get a contract.
"Five years ago, there was a lot of it going on but the impact of was nowhere near what it is now. There are people losing their jobs and the cyclists won't put up with it any more.
"There's a lot of anger among them because it's costing everyone a lot of money and their careers."
