Former Giro winner Damiano Cunego and 26 others indicted for doping | Drugs in sport
Drugs in sport This article is more than 10 years oldFormer Giro winner Damiano Cunego and 26 others indicted for doping
This article is more than 10 years old Italian judge issues case against Lampre-MeridaTeam insist they will fight against charges
The former world champion Alessandro Ballan and the 2004 Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego were among 27 riders and officials linked to the Lampre-Merida team indicted for doping on Friday.
The news broke as Cunego was part of a counterattack during stage 19 of the 100th Tour de France.
A judge in Mantova on Friday morning accepted a request from a prosecutor to issue the indictments with a hearing set for 10 December.
The disgraced former Tour winner Michael Rasmussen is listed along with the likes of Marzio Bruseghin and Mauro Santambrogio, the latter having tested positive at this year's Giro d'Italia where he won stage 14 to Bardonecchia in treacherous conditions.
Lampre's general manager Giuseppe Saronni was also indicted along with sporting directors Maurizio Piovani and Fabrizio Bontempi, and the pharmacist Guido Nigrelli.
In a statement, Lampre-Merida said: "The team reaffirms trust in the athletes and the team members involved in this case, and is confident that during the hearing it will be possible to demonstrate their non-involvement in the subject of the charges.
"The certainty of being able to demonstrate the non-involvement brings about the question of who, once that issue has been clarified, will take responsibility for the burdens and offence placed upon the team."
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