Former professional downhill mountain bike rider Melissa ‘Missy’ Giove (37) and Eric Canori (30) have been arrested on charges of conspiring to possess and distribute almost 400 pounds of marijuana.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers found the marijuana, along with over US$1million and packing material at
.
If found guilty, Giove and Canori could face up to 40 years in jail and a fine of up to $US2million.
A DEA Special Agent told The Saratogian newspaper: "(Drug) trafficking can lead you downhill fast. From championship mountain biking to street level drug dealing, the only reason people turn to drug trafficking is to make a profit from the sale of illicit narcotics.
“DEA and our law enforcement partners successfully put the brakes on this drug trafficking organisation and put them out of business."
Giove was one of the sport’s first female stars, and won a record 14 NORBA downhill comps, two World Cup overall wins and took the world championship title in 1994. She retired from racing in 2003.
Andrew Dodd, Features Editor on Mountain Biking UK magazine said: “Missy Giove was in your face, full of attitude and made the sport look amazing. Her full-on approach to racing turned previously mundane woman’s racing into action packed madness.”