Liquigas says scientific evidence isn’t certain enough to say Pellizotti resorted to doping

Liquigas defends Pellizotti after Giro ban

MILAN — The Liquigas team says scientific evidence does not appear to show that Franco Pellizotti resorted to doping.

Pellizotti was banned from the Giro d’Italia on Monday after the International Cycling Union announced the Italian rider failed its biological passport program.

“Right now the evidence presented does not appear able to show with certainty, at a scientific level, illicit behavior by the athlete,” Liquigas said in a statement on Tuesday.

Still, Liquigas said it expected an explanation from Pellizotti, who won the King of the Mountains’ jersey at last year’s Tour de France and finished third in the Giro.

Liquigas said the tests in question were taken last summer, and the team expressed disappointment that it took so long to announce the irregularities.

Pellizotti has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday.