Don't Mess With Cats: Cyclist sanctioned after shooting a politician's pet

Whenever a cyclist finds themselves facing suspension, it's usually a result of doping or some other form of cheating. Very rarely does this sport attract the kind of real-world illicit scandals you might find in the NFL or boxing. Well, that is until now...

Enter Antonio Tiberi, the Italian Trek-Segafredo team rider. His sanction from the sport has little to do with athletic performance. Instead was suspended and sanctioned for killing the cat of San Marino's tourism minister.

The bizarre event happened in June 2022 but was recently uncovered by "Il Corriere de la Sera", an Italian news agency.

Antonio Tiberi, who was 20 at the time and had just won the World Junior Time Trial Championship in 2019, and is considered one of Italy's best cycling talents.

In the summer of 2022, the young cyclist bought an airgun, and was looking to test out its range and power, he said at his November 2022 court hearing.

"My intention was to measure the range of the gun, so I aimed at a no parking sign. I also admit that I tried to shoot the cat and to my surprise I hit it," he told the judge, according to the report of 'Il Corriere of the Sera'.

Antonio Tiberi confessed that "he had no intention of killing the cat. In fact, he was convinced that the weapon was not lethal", but the shot hit the animal's head, ending its life.

As fate would have it, this cat was the pet of Federico Amati, Minister of Tourism for San Marino, which significantly increased the response to the event.

Photo: Instagram – @federicopediniamati

"It was something incredibly stupid and irresponsible, the seriousness of which I only realized later. I accept the consequences and guilt of my actions with a sense of responsibility and regret," the cyclist said in a statement released after the consequences of his actions became known.

Photo: Instagram – @antonio.tiberi01

The San Marino court hearing the case had provisionally sentenced Antonio Tiberi to a fine of 4,000 euros (US $4,215)

Photo: Pexels - Ekaterina Bolovtsova

Added to that fine is the 20-day suspension of employment and salary imposed on him by his Trek-Segafredo team, which he made public in a statement.

Dia's team has "strongly condemned the reprehensible act," noting that money from those 20 days of Antonio Tiberi's salary will go to an "animal care, protection and rescue organization."

Photo: Twitter - @TrekSegafredo

The professional cyclist will not only miss the next three races (Trofeo Laigueglia, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Torino), but his team also does not rule out "taking further measures in the future".

Trek-Segafredo has promised "to work closely with Antonio to ensure he continues his education and takes the necessary actions to become a better person," the statement said.

For his part, Tiberi has apparently taken note of this and in his public letter committed to "provide financial support depending on the awards won this season".

The Italian cyclist will "donate it to associations in San Marino that take care of stray cats, which I would like to work with the government to select. I would also like to dedicate some of my free time to help personally," he concluded.