McQuaid states he is " very angry " with Bettini for not signing the anti-doping letter. He stated that he was tired of Bettini and riders like him not signing the letter. He is also very angry with the Italian Federation for not having forced all riders to sign.
Di Rocco, the President of the Italian Federation, politely told him to get lost. He stated that the Federation would not enforce different protocols with different categories of riders (he stated that women, U23 and MTB racers are not requested by the UCI to sign a similar statement).
He also confirmed that the Italian Federation informed UCI on 13 September that they would not require pros to sign the letter to participate in the Worlds, until the entire legal picture was clear.
This last tidbit helps me to understand that Di Rocco is challenging the UCI... let us see what happens. Fun, fun, fun. Our sport is again all over the news before the racing even begins.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Primo_Piano/2007/09_Settembre/25/mcquaid.shtml
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25092007/58/mcquaid-slams-bettini.html
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/070925/sports/cycling_world_ger_doping_bettini
Edit: added English links.
Di Rocco, the President of the Italian Federation, politely told him to get lost. He stated that the Federation would not enforce different protocols with different categories of riders (he stated that women, U23 and MTB racers are not requested by the UCI to sign a similar statement).
He also confirmed that the Italian Federation informed UCI on 13 September that they would not require pros to sign the letter to participate in the Worlds, until the entire legal picture was clear.
This last tidbit helps me to understand that Di Rocco is challenging the UCI... let us see what happens. Fun, fun, fun. Our sport is again all over the news before the racing even begins.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Primo_Piano/2007/09_Settembre/25/mcquaid.shtml
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25092007/58/mcquaid-slams-bettini.html
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/070925/sports/cycling_world_ger_doping_bettini
Edit: added English links.