Rome - Italian rider Filippo Pozzato has been banned for three months by his national Olympic committee for working with doping-accused doctor Michele Ferrari.
CONI's anti-doping prosecutor had recommended a one-year ban. Pozzato acknowledged working with Ferrari but says he did not dope. CONI also fined Pozzato $12 800 and ordered him to pay $2 500 in trial fees. The ban is backdated from June 10 to Sept. 18, meaning Pozzato can return next week. Due to the trial, Pozzato missed the Olympics and was left off Italy's world championship squad.
The 31-year-old Pozzato won the Milan-San Remo classic in 2006 and has won a total of four stages spread over cycling's three major tours. Ferrari was banned for life from the sport by the Italian Cycling Federation in 2002.
Sapa-AP