Must Read: Kreuziger admits working with Ferrari
Czech Amstel Gold Race winner says he worked with Ferrari during his rookie season, but never used banned substances
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Roman Kreuziger admits working with banned Dr. Ferrari — Cycling Weekly
Saxo-Tinkoff’s Roman Kreuziger admitted to Cycling Weekly and VeloNews contributor Gregor Brown on Thursday to having worked with banned Italian Michele Ferrari during his rookie season, but said that he never used performance enhancing drugs.
“When I started working with him I was 20 years old. I was in my first year as a professional, and at the time, I believed he was one of the best coaches in the world. That was why I contacted him back then,” Kreuziger wrote in an e-mail. “At that time I didn’t know he was banned.”
Kreuziger confirmed working with Ferrari from late 2006 through 2007. In 2002, the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) banned Ferrari from working with athletes in Italy. Kreuziger responded when asked if he had ever doped by saying, “No. Never.”
The winner of the Amstel Gold Race in April, Kreuziger refused to address questions regarding testimony from former Liquigas teammate Leonardo Bertagnolli, published in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s reasoned decision against Lance Armstrong, in which Bertagnolli implicated the Czech in a doping program.
“When I was asked about my relationship with Ferrari before Liège-Bastogne-Liège, I didn’t want to hide it,” Kreuziger told Cycling Weekly. “But I had decided it would be the most appropriate to go to the Czech Federation in the first place to inform them on this matter before addressing it in public. I talked with my federation shortly after Tour of Romandie finished.”