The International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), announced yesterday that Giovanni Carboni has been sanctioned with a four-year ban by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal following an anti-doping rule violation based on an anomaly detected in the athlete's biological passport.

Today the 30-year-old rider from Marche, who remained silent during the 11 months away from racing in which he was engaged in his defense (the suspension began after the anomaly was detected in a single test at the 2024 Tour de Langkawi, ed.), wanted to comment on the news personally and through his legal representatives.

THE DEFENSE

Avv. Giovanni Monaco, Dr. Alessandro Monaco and Avv. Pietro Negri, as Defenders of Mr. Giovanni Carboni:

"We acknowledge the decision of the Anti-Doping Tribunal. While respecting this ruling, we do not share its conclusions, which are moreover brief.

We believe, in fact, that the articulated scientific evidence presented by this defense and by our technical consultants has not been effectively refuted and that the decision has essentially adopted ONLY the reconstruction proposed by ITA, without engaging in depth with the alternative scientific explanations offered during the proceedings.

For this reason, Mr. Carboni, with our representation, has decided to file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), trusting that this forum will allow for a full examination of the scientific issues at the center of the proceedings.

We will continue to defend with determination the position and the multi-year sporting reputation of the Athlete, while maintaining full respect for sporting institutions."

STATEMENT BY ATHLETE GIOVANNI CARBONI

"After approximately 1 year of suspension from my sporting activity, I FINALLY received a response, albeit a negative one! The ruling, which I obviously do not agree with, gives me the opportunity to turn to an independent tribunal composed of an arbitral panel.

I want to clarify that I have always been cooperative with sporting institutions, fulfilling all cooperation obligations that a transparent athlete is required to meet in case of suspected violation of an anti-doping rule.

Two hematologist doctors, my technical consultants of international renown, have provided a scientifically valid and alternative response to the alleged and sole PROBABILITY of doping contested against me by the ABP (Athlete Biological Passport) panel of "experts".

The doctors have proven in detail that the sole alleged anomaly of the biological passport is due to the serious state of illness in which I found myself on the evening of the sample collection that is being contested and in the days following.

I have full confidence in my defense and in the work of my experts."