After Trek Segafredo's Antonio Tiberi was fined €4,000 for killing a cat with an air rifle near his home in San Marino last June, his team decided to suspend him without pay for 20 days.

Shortly after the team announced the suspension, his agent, Alex Carrera, released a statement from Tiberi.

"I deeply regret my shameful actions. Shooting the cat was tremendously stupid and irresponsible, and it was only later that I realized the gravity and danger of it," Tiberi said in his statement. I am not going to make excuses like "if" or "but. I accept the consequences and responsibility for my actions with a sense of responsibility and contrition." [According to Il Corriere della Sera, Tiberi said, "My intention was simply to measure the range of the weapon, so I aimed at the no parking sign. I also admit that I (foolishly and unintentionally) tried to shoot the cat." And to my surprise, I actually shot it. I did not intend to kill the animal. In fact, I was convinced that the weapon was not capable of killing it."

The cat belonged to San Marino's Minister of Tourism Federico Pedini Amati, who had been the country's head of state in 2008, and who called the police in the aftermath of the incident last June 21.

Tiberi confessed to the crime when questioned by police in November, but Pedini Amati believes that the punishment of a €4,000 fine and confiscation of his air rifle is too light, and that the rider should have been stripped of his residency rights as well.

"The cat was not bothering anyone," Pedini Amati told Il Corriere.

"It was with us for a long time, and our three-year-old daughter Lucia adored it. There is no way I could get away with a €4,000 fine for killing my pet. It is commendable that the killer admitted the facts. That does not mean that these people should be given residency rights."

The Italian rider pleaded guilty in court, stating that he was only testing the range of his air rifle and did not intend to kill the cat. Tiberi had purchased the weapon the week before.

Tiberi, 21, said he did not reveal the incident "out of a strong sense of shame and regret," and apologized especially to the team, "the innocent victims in this case."

"My actions were totally unbecoming as a professional athlete and, more generally, as a responsible and decent human being. I apologize again and publicly to the Minister of San Marino, Pedini Amati, for the emotional damage I have caused to him and to the citizens of San Marino. Finally, I would like to reiterate to you all that it was not my intention to kill the cat, it was an accident"

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Tiberi said he would donate this season's winnings to an organization that rescues feral cats in San Marino and also participates in volunteer work.

"It is only now that this has happened, but unfortunately I can only follow up my repentance with a specific and informative gesture. I have made a great mistake. I believe that all I can do now is to act for redemption."

In recent years, changes to San Marino's tax code have made it more popular among professional riders and other athletes, and Tiberi moved his residence to San Marino in March 2022.

Trek Segafredo agreed to the fine and said it "strongly condemns the reprehensible behavior, which is a clear violation of the team's code of conduct."

This was the first time the team had heard of this reported infraction, and the team announced a suspension with a "minimum of 20 days without pay."

This means that Tiberi will miss the Trofeo Laigueglia, Tirreno Adriatico, and Milan-Torino. If necessary, the team will take further action in the future.

"In addition to the fine already issued by the court, the team will donate Antonio's suspended salary to the appropriate animal protection, conservation, and rescue organization," the team wrote, adding that it was greatly disappointed by Ryder's actions.

"The team is committed to helping Ryder improve not only as an athlete, but also as a man and a woman. The team expects Antonio to educate himself, express reflection, and take the necessary steps to become a better person."

The 21-year-old was the 2019 Junior Time Trial World Champion before turning pro with Trek-Segafredo ahead of the 2021 season.

Tiberi, who made his Grand Tour debut at last year's Vuelta a España, is off to a strong start to 2023, finishing eighth overall in the Tour Down Under and seventh overall in the UAE Tour.

The Trek-Segafredo team will release a statement on Tuesday.