Oil for Drugs

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The Oil for Drugs case is an Italian doping case against doctor Carlos Santuccione and a number of accomplices, started in 2003. He is accused of administering prohibited doping products to professional and amateur athletes, to enhance their performance as well as being involved in doping network across Italy.[1]

Contents

[edit] Timeline

[edit] Death of Amateur cyclist

The catalyst to start the investigation was the death of an amateur cyclist in Italy that was suspicious. The death of this unnamed cyclist which occurred in around December 2002 led to an investigation by the Italian authorities.[2] The State Prosecutor started and coordinated the investigation.

[edit] Police action

Italy's Anti-Narcotic Group (NAS) began an investigation and tapped the phones of Doctor Santuccione as well as installing a hidden camera in his office. On March 3, 2004 Santuccione advised over the telephone professional cyclist Danilo Di Luca to inject EPO before Milan-Sanremo which was recorded.[3] Di Luca said that he would visit the Doctor that evening with teammate Alessandro Spezialetti. Later that evening the video surveillance of Santuccione's office showed Santuccione preparing two disposable syringes with EPO and exiting the office where Di Luca and Spezialetti were outside. A teammate of Di Luca and Spezialetti, Eddy Mazzoleni also sent SMS messages to Santuccione at this time mentioning Di Luca and hormone use.[4]

Following this surveillance the NAS squad conducted coordinated surprise raids at team hotels as well as at certain rider's homes on the night of May 24, 2004. Eight riders (all clients of Santuccione) from six different teams were involved. These were[5] :

No illegal substances were found.[5]

The NAS raid was part of a much larger raid carried out in 28 Italian cities involving 138 professional and amateur athletes, doctors and others who were under suspicion of dealing or using doping in several sports. However by May 2004, only two arrests had been made. One of these involved a pharmacist.[6]

[edit] Suspensions & Bans

Danilo Di Luca was given a three month suspension due to his involvement in the case.[3] On December 18, 2007 Santuccione was given a life time ban by the Italian Olympic Committee due to his involvement in the Oil for Drugs case and after having already serving a lengthy ban for a previous doping offense.[7] On April 8, 2008 Mazzoleni was given a two year suspension due to his involvement in the case.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Sport of the Doctors. Daily Peloton. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  2. ^ The “Oil for Drugs” Investigation. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  3. ^ a b Di Luca wins and loses in CAS decision. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  4. ^ Di Luca & Mazzoleni to appear before CONI. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  5. ^ a b NAS blitz nets nada. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  6. ^ NAS raid Giro again but come up empty handed. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  7. ^ Santuccione banned for life. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  8. ^ Mazzoleni gets two year ban. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.