The Italian sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport has reported details about Dr. Ferrari. There has been a two year investigation in Padua about his dealings. They’ve found money laundering and fraud in Italy and Switzerland and a doping system with 20 pro cyclists and other athletes, not to mention tax evasion.
It’s supposedly bigger than Operation Puerto. An Italian prosecutor, Roberti, found contracts and 30 million euros worth of secret payments. Money passed through South America, Switzerland, Monte Carlo and Gibraltar. Dr Ferrari is said to be the power behind the scheme. There were bank managers said to be in on it. Some of the services provided included, besides drugs and coaching, legal help for positive tests.
Besides the names we’ve been hearing, some others suspected to be involved are supposed to include Michele Scarponi, Denis Menchov, Alexandre Kolobnev, Vladimir Gusev, Vladimir Karpets, Mikhail Ignatiev, Alberto Ongarato, Pellizotti, Popovych and Evgeni Petrov. Many riders are said to have worked with a sports management company in Monte Carlo to avoid or reduce their taxes.
Italian police claim that the following teams are possibly implicated: Liquigas, Lampre, Colnago, Geox, Androni, Katusha, QuickStep, CSF-Inox, Farnese Vini, Acqua & Sapone, Astana, Radio Shack, Vacansoleil, ISD, CSF, LPR, Tinkoff, Rabobank, Gerolsteiner, and Milram.
