Liquigas Wins Damages Award From Beltràn
Italian Cycling Federation Orders Compensation to the Liquigas team from Manuel Beltràn for Doping Offence in 2008 Tour

In a historic decision for cycling, the Liquigas team has won a decision for damages reputed to be 100,000 Euros from Manuel Beltràn  2008 positive test at the Tour de France from a sample taken after stage 1. Beltran was removed from the race in disgrace on July 11th after stage 7 and the team said in it's press release that the rider had been suspended and...

"If the counter-dope ("B") test confirms Beltràn positive, the Team will act with his dismissal and could sue the rider for damages."

True to their word the team took the action and won the decision which was made by the Italian Federation on March 25th.  It is the first time a team has sued and won a decision for damages against a rider for violating the anti-doping efforts of a team and the resulting loss in reputation and harm to the team; and it goes without saying to the sport.

The decision sets a new legal precedent in the battle against doping and raises the personal risk to those who would defy a teams efforts to support clean sport.

Beltran will be free to ride in late July of 2010 having served his suspension, the rider from Jaén, Spain. Currently 39 years old the rider started his career in 1995 with the Mapei team and road for Team Coast, Banesto, and Discovery Channel before joining Liquigas in 2007.

Historic sentence for cycling:
Liquigas Sport will obtain reparation from Beltràn
The FCI Board Arbitration decided in behalf of the sport company in the case for image damages after a doping event

March 29th - The FCI (Italian Federation of Cycling) Board Arbitration passed a historic sentence on March 9th (signed on March 24th and 25th) about the proceeding brought by Liquigas Sport against rider Manuel Beltràn. The sport companies will obtain a reparation for image damages from the Spanish rider that, in Tour de France 2008, turns out to be positive in antidoping control.

"We’re really satisfied with this decision – affirms Liquigas Sport president Paolo Dal Lago, "that recognizes our company as victim of the recklessness of an athlete. We decided to bring proceeding against Beltràn, taking on all the burdens, first of all to give a warning sign against the those who destroy cycling. Liquigas Sport, from it's  part, always contended a hard-and-fast internal discipline about doping and this action proves it. We’re also sure that this sentence is an historic event for cycling world, besides be an important precedent in the battle to protect sports ethics."

For Roberto Amadio, Liquigas Sport team manager, the decision of FCI Board Arbitration is "an important support to our policy of total rigorousness about doping. Our athletes know that for the team it’s important win, but they also know that the way to get it is more important. Our internal rules don’t admit mistakes about it and Beltràn case proves the efforts we do to command respect. We can’t accept that an athlete could undermine the efforts done since 2005 to create a high level cycling team."

Tour de France - Manuel Beltran Suspended
Tour de France 2008 - Have We Hit Rock Bottom Yet?

Sentenza storica per il ciclismo:
Liquigas Sport otterrà il risarcimento da Beltràn
Il Collegio Arbitrale della FCI ha deciso in favore della società sportiva
nella causa per danni d’immagine intentata dopo un caso di doping

29 Marzo - E’ una sentenza destinata a fare storia quella emessa dal Collegio Arbitrale della FCI il 9 marzo, e sottoscritta alle date 24 e 25, in riferimento alla causa intentata da Liquigas Sport contro il corridore Manuel Beltràn. La società sportiva, infatti, ha avuto ragione dello spagnolo circa la richiesta di risarcimento per danni d’immagine, promossa in seguito alla positività riscontrata durante il Tour de France 2008.

"Siamo molto soddisfatti per questa decisione – afferma il presidente di Liquigas Sport Paolo Dal Lago – che riconosce la nostra società come vittima dell’incoscienza e dell’irresponsabilità di un’atleta. La decisione di intentare causa contro Beltràn, con tutti gli oneri del caso, è nata innanzitutto dalla volontà di lanciare un segnale forte contro coloro che distruggono il ciclismo. Liquigas Sport ha sempre sostenuto una ferrea disciplina interna nei confronti del doping e questa azione lo dimostra. Siamo altresì convinti che sia un evento storico per tutto il mondo del ciclismo, oltre che un precedente importante nell’annosa battaglia per tutelare l’etica sportiva".

Per Roberto Amadio, team manager di Liquigas Sport, la decisione del Collegio Arbitrale della FCI  "è un contributo importante alla politica di totale intransigenza che promuoviamo in tema di doping. Ai nostri atleti abbiamo sempre ribadito che per Liquigas Sport la vittoria è importante, ma il modo in cui la si ottiene lo è ancora di più. Il nostro regolamento interno non ammette errori in questo senso e il caso Beltràn dimostra gli sforzi che compiamo per farlo rispettare. Non possiamo più accettare che un atleta possa mettere in discussione l’impegno che da anni profondiamo per creare una struttura ciclistica di altissimo livello".

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