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| Italy amateur cycling team head arrested in doping investigation | |
| (4 days later) | |
| Italian police have arrested the head of a top amateur cycling team and several associates suspected of giving cyclists performance-enhancing drugs. | Italian police have arrested the head of a top amateur cycling team and several associates suspected of giving cyclists performance-enhancing drugs. |
| Police raids took place in Lucca and elsewhere in Tuscany, media report. | Police raids took place in Lucca and elsewhere in Tuscany, media report. |
| Luca Franceschi - owner of Altopack-Eppella - and five other top team officials are under house arrest. | Luca Franceschi - owner of Altopack-Eppella - and five other top team officials are under house arrest. |
| The sudden death of a young Lithuanian cyclist last May - 21-year-old Linas Rumsas - raised suspicions. He had been among the top racers in Italy. | The sudden death of a young Lithuanian cyclist last May - 21-year-old Linas Rumsas - raised suspicions. He had been among the top racers in Italy. |
| Rumsas's parents Raimondas and Edita had been investigated for alleged doping in 2003. | Rumsas's parents Raimondas and Edita had been investigated for alleged doping in 2003. |
| In that year Raimondas, a professional cyclist, was suspended for a year after testing positive for the banned drug EPO in the Giro d'Italia. | In that year Raimondas, a professional cyclist, was suspended for a year after testing positive for the banned drug EPO in the Giro d'Italia. |
| Police said Mr Franceschi had "recruited the most promising cyclists, encouraged them to take drugs and procured the doping substances for them, including EPO in microdoses". | Police said Mr Franceschi had "recruited the most promising cyclists, encouraged them to take drugs and procured the doping substances for them, including EPO in microdoses". |
| Police also allege that Mr Franceschi's parents - Narciso and Maria Luisa - hosted team cyclists in their home after races and let them inject drugs there. | Police also allege that Mr Franceschi's parents - Narciso and Maria Luisa - hosted team cyclists in their home after races and let them inject drugs there. |
| Besides EPO, performance-enhancing growth hormones and painkillers were also allegedly administered. | Besides EPO, performance-enhancing growth hormones and painkillers were also allegedly administered. |
| Police found 25 vials of EPO in a fridge when they raided the home of Michele Viola, one of the team's trainers. | Police found 25 vials of EPO in a fridge when they raided the home of Michele Viola, one of the team's trainers. |
| Altopack's sports director Elso Frediani and a pharmacist, Andrea Bianchi, are the other suspects under house arrest. Lucca police are also investigating 17 others. | Altopack's sports director Elso Frediani and a pharmacist, Andrea Bianchi, are the other suspects under house arrest. Lucca police are also investigating 17 others. |
| Police searches also took place in Pistoia, Livorno and Bergamo provinces. | Police searches also took place in Pistoia, Livorno and Bergamo provinces. |