Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Pantani off the hook

Italian Olympic Committee will not prosecute

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Thursday July 22, 1999 10:58 AM

Marco Pantani insists he has never used performance-enhancing drugs. Graham Chadwick/Allsport

ROME (Reuters) -- The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) confirmed on Thursday it would not prosecute Marco Pantani for failing a blood test during this year's Giro d'Italia cycle race.

"Our antidoping committee noted that Pantani consented to a blood test strictly as a health check. Therefore the results of the test can't be used for disciplinary purposes," a CONI spokesman said.

The anti-doping commission met on Wednesday to consider the case of Pantani, who was forced to drop of out of the Giro D'Italia after the tests showed he had a haematocrit (red blood cell) level two percent over the 50 percent limit.

With just two stages to race, he was only 48 hours away from his second consecutive victory in the prestigious tour.

CONI said that while it had cleared Pantani, it had referred the case of Roberto Rempi, a doctor with Pantani's Mercatone team, to the International Cycling Federation (UIC), the sport's world governing body.

It said Rempi had shown "gross negligence" with regard to Pantani's health.

Pantani insists he has never used performance-enhancing drugs including the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO), which boosts red blood cell levels.

He has said he plans to make a comeback at the world championships in Italy in October.

 

Related information
Stories
Armstrong cleared of drug claims, still leads Tour
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.