The Italian National Road Championships - Did we go backwards?

This morning I woke up to the news that Franco Pellizotti had won his first Italian tricolore - Italian Road Race Championship. The Italian rider had just returned to racing after a two-year ban for a biological passport violation. Also making up the podium was Danilo Di Luca (Acqua e Sapore), guilty of his own doping indiscretion. But it was not a clean sweep for Italian ex-dopers as Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale) managed to finish in third spot.



Last year, the Italian cycling federation took a strong stance again the growing doping problem. It banned any rider with any sort of doping penalty from competing in the Italian national championships that were being held in Sicily. The decision was taken at the FCI’s federal council meeting in June 2012. The ruling prevented any rider who has served doping bans of six months or more from representing Italy at international level and from competing in the national championships.

The decision meant Italian stars as Michele Scarponi, Ivan Basso, Danilo Di Luca and Alessandro Petacchi were not allowed to fight for the tricolore national title jersey in Sicily. 

The decision was not supported by everyone. National coach Paolo Bettini questioned if the new ruling was too stern. A poor showing at the World Championship in Denmark may have had the authorites waiving in their attempt to clean up the sport.

Fast forward to 2012 and suddenly the top 2 spots of the podium are taken up by riders that have been found guilty of doping indiscretions. 

Had the authorities taken a retrograde step to allow ex-doper to participate in the Settimana Tricolore?

Something had changed in the past 12 months.  Ex-dopers were welcomed back into the fold.  Unlike in 2011, ex-dopers were allowed to participate in the Settimana Tricolore.  In fact, 4 of the top 15 riders were guilty of doping infractions in the past.

The 2011 decision was challenged by Di Luca without success. Basso asked for clarification back in November 2011.

Unfortunately, it appears that the FCI efforts to clean up the sport were in vain. Ex-dopers were allowed to participate.

In fact, any decision made to allow these riders back into the Settimana Tricolore undermines the ability of authorities efforts to clamp down on doping rather than promote the event. 

Pellizotti won. Congratulations. But celebrating Pellizotti's win will not give me, or many other, the same level of satisfaction as a rider that spent his whole career clean.  

The best outcome of the Settimana Tricolore weekend was the podium finish of Moreno Moser. Certainly one of Italy's future stars.