Trek-Segafredo

Trek–Segafredo is a professional road bicycle racing team at UCI WorldTeam level licensed in the United States. Image via Twitter @TrekSegafredo

Trek-Segafredo cyclist Antonio Tiberi suspended for shooting a cat

Trek-Segafredo has suspended Antonio Tiberi after the Italian cyclist was found guilty of shooting and killing a cat.

Trek-Segafredo

Trek–Segafredo is a professional road bicycle racing team at UCI WorldTeam level licensed in the United States. Image via Twitter @TrekSegafredo

21-year-old Antonio Tiberi suspended Trek-Segafedo and was fined for shooting a minister’s cat dead in San Marino.

Antonio Tiberi was a junior-time trial world champion in 2019 and had recently moved to San Marino. He is a professional cyclist for Trek-Segafedo having joined the team in 2020.

The cat belongs to Tiberi’s neighbours, the Pedini Amati family. The patriarch of the family, Federico Pedini Amati, is the minister of tourism and former head of the state of San Marino. The cat’s name is still unknown.

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Antonio Triberi claims that he was trying out an air rifle when he pointed it at the head of the cat belonging to the family next door and fired.

The repercussions for Antonio Tiberi

Trek-Segafredo called Tiberi’s action “reprehensible.” They suspended Triberi for 20 days during which his pay will be donated to an “appropriate animal care, protection, and rescue organization.” They also stated that “if necessary, the team will take additional action in the future.”

Team statement regarding Antonio Tiberi case

Antonio Triberi was fined the equivalent of $4,250 by the local authorities.

Antonio Tiberi posted an apology on Instagram which included that he felt a “sense of responsibility and repentance the consequences and the blame for my action. If I have not spoken publicly about it before, it was only because of a strong sense of shame and regret. I understand the criticism from fans, the media and people in general. I can do nothing but apologize to them, just as I did to my team, who are a blameless victim of the affair. My conduct was not at all befitting a professional athlete and, more generally, a responsible and sensible person.””

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