Alessandro Petacchi denied that former Lampre teammate Danilo Hondo told a Munich court that they had both been blood doped, insisting that the German's testimony was not properly translated for the purpose of tarnishing him and the entire cycling world.

Hondo was questioned Tuesday in a Munich courtroom as part of the trial of German doctor Mark Schmidt, who is accused of blood doping numerous cross-country skiers and cyclists. The allegations of blood doping were uncovered during the investigation of Arderrath.

According to the DPA news agency, Hondo said: "I have no problem with being doped together in one room if the relationship is almost fraternal." Hondo's testimony was published in several German newspapers.

Hondo was Petacchi's lead out man at Lampre from 2010 to 2012. He told the court that he was contacted by Schmidt in the winter of 2011 and paid Mark Schmidt about 25,000 euros using the same James Bond code name that was employed to label blood bags at Operacion Puerto.

Hondo confessed to blood doping in an interview with ARD last year and was immediately dismissed as Swiss national coach; Petacchi, who retired in 2015, has denied any wrongdoing but was handed a two-year ban by the UCI last year.

"I am really disappointed about what was reported after Danilo Hondo's trial testimony. His testimony was reported incorrectly to stimulate unfair headlines," Petacchi said in a message sent to Italian media.

"Knowing him as my friend and former teammate, I had no problem calling him and asking for an explanation. Danilo, through his lawyer, sent me his deposition in Munich.

"There is nothing in Hondo's testimony that states that I received illegal blood treatment in his presence or alone.

"Hondo's testimony has not been translated and reported correctly and has been given a different meaning in order to damage me and tarnish the cycling community."

Petacchi's two-year ban forced him to suspend his work as a television commentator in Italy. Since then he has kept a low profile and devoted himself to supporting his wife in her battle with cancer.

"I'm really sorry that this has happened and that it has damaged me, having given everything to this sport. But that's okay. I have more serious issues involving my family's health," he said in his message, declining to discuss his own case.

." I have nothing else to say or add, because it is in the past, something I did not clarify with the UCI two years ago."