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Open plea Pantani asks for privacy in depression battlePosted: Thursday June 26, 2003 7:02 AMROME (Reuters) -- Italian cyclist Marco Pantani has issued an open letter asking for privacy as he receives treatment for depression. The 1998 Giro d'Italia and Tour de France winner booked into a clinic that specializes in the treatment of depression and drug addiction near Padua at the end of last week. "I would like to address this letter to everybody with the aim of putting an end to the media's speculation on my state of health," read Pantani's statement, which was published in Thursday's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "First of all I can confirm that I'm receiving treatment from the staff of the Parco dei Tigli clinic in Teolo. "I ask everybody to respect my rights to privacy and put an end to the continual visits and requests for information. "To reassure my fans and all those who have supported me during these last few days, I have authorized the doctors to issue bulletins and press releases on my state of health and on the progress of my treatment." Pantani's Mercatone Uno team was not invited to take part in next month's centenary Tour in which American Lance Armstrong goes for a record-equalling fifth successive victory. The 33-year-old finished 14th overall in May's Giro, 26 minutes and 15 seconds behind winner Gilberto Simoni. Pantani was banned for six months for possessing a syringe containing the banned substance insulin during the 2001 Giro, only returning to competition in March.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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