Daniele Mannini hit back at the “massive injustice” of his one-year ban for turning up five minutes late to a doping test, as more details emerge.
Both Napoli midfielder Mannini and Brescia’s Davide Possanzini were originally suspended for 15 days for the incident in December 2007, when both were playing for Brescia, but the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) intervened and ordered the 12-month ban.
“I would have considered even a one-day ban to have been a massive injustice,” snapped Mannini in a Press release.
“The decision came like a bolt from the blue. I never ever could have imagined this conclusion. Considering what happened, I expected to be completely cleared.”
The ban has infuriated Italian football, as the FIGC announced it is helping stage an appeal and all Serie A and B games this weekend will kick off 15 minutes late in protest.
“I very much appreciated the support from the FIGC, the Lega Calcio, Napoli and President Aurelio De Laurentiis,” continued Mannini.
“I am convinced they will continue to help me during this situation. I hope that all this clamour does not end and that words are transformed into a real possibility of getting me back on the field.”
Brescia are particularly angry at the ban, because they have fully explained why the five-minute delay in arriving for the doping test occurred.
“We will appeal to everyone and everything it is possible to appeal to, because these two boys did nothing wrong,” proclaimed President Gino Corioni.
“This sentence is a joke for all concerned – the club, the players, the Federation, the CONI and the Lega Calcio.”
Brescia noted in their report that the delay was due to President Corioni holding the entire squad for a meeting after the 3-0 defeat to Chievo that went on for half an hour.
“The whole thing is ridiculous.”
However, the Italian Cycling Association is warning that football must not be considered exempt from the same rules that govern all sport.
“Perhaps not everyone remembers that in cycling an athlete could never escape punishment for turning up late to a doping test,” read a statement.
“Just ask Michael Rasmussen, who is still sitting out a two-year ban without ever testing positive, all because he did not correctly declare his movements.”
It is an unusual comparison, as Rasmussen actively lied about his whereabouts when sought for a doping test before the 2007 Tour de France.
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