USA - Ex-mountain bike champ hit with drug charge

[enquirewithin]

Former mountain biking world champion Melissa "Missy'' Giove was in custody on federal drug charges after authorities said they seized more than 45 kilograms of marijuana from a truck she was driving in upstate New York.

US Drug Enforcement Administration officials said that the 37-year-old Giove and 30-year-old Eric Canori of Wilton were charged with conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100kg of marijuana.

Authorities said they seized nearly 45kg of pot from the truck and from Canori's home outside Saratoga Springs, 25 miles north of Albany.

Giove and Canori were in the custody of U.S. Marshals pending detention hearings today (HK time) in Albany.

DEA spokeswoman Erin Mulvey said authorities learned of Giove and Canori's plans last weekend when Illinois State Police pulled over a woman driving a truck and trailer loaded with about 47kg of marijuana.
Authorities completed the delivery to the Albany area, where Mulvey said Giove picked up the vehicle and trailer.

Officials said Giove then drove north and followed Canori to his home, where some of the trailer's contents were unloaded.

Giove was later arrested at nearby Saratoga Lake, authorities said. A search of Canori's home turned up more than 68kg of pot and more than $1 million (HK$7.8 million) in cash stashed in a closet and the basement, the DEA said.

Giove, nicknamed "The Missile'' for her aggressive riding style, was the downhill world champion in 1994 and won World Cup season titles in '97 and '98, then captured national titles from 1999-2001.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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