ROME, July 31, 2008 (AFP) – Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli said he had
“denied everything” following his doping hearing with the Italian Olympic
Committee (Coni) on Thursday.

Piepoli was heard just a day after his former Saunier-Duval team-mate
Ricardo Ricco, who admitted to using EPO.

Ricco was kicked out of the Tour de France earlier this month after failing
a dope test following the fourth stage time-trial.

He was fired by Saunier-Duval, who also dismissed Piepoli, claiming he had
violated their code of ethics.

But following his doping hearing, Piepoli said: “I had nothing important to
say with regards the hearing. I denied everything.

“I was questioned only as a witness. I said what I had to say, nothing
more, nothing less.”

Piepoli was giving nothing away and refused even to answer journalists’
questions about his relationship with Ricco, saying only: “Ask him.”

Piepoli had won the prestigious 10th stage on the Tour but a day later
Ricco’s positive test was published and veteran Piepoli found himself ditched
by his team for something they refused to publicize specifically.

It has been a bad month for Italian cycling as on Thursday Coni announced
that two more professional riders had tested positive for EPO.

Lampre’s Paolo Bossoni failed a test on June 29 during the Settimana
Tricolore, a day after Giovanni Carini of S.S. Pagnoncelli also failed a test
at the same event.

Photo by: CorVos Pro