Pozzato could miss Olympics

Italian rider Filippo Pozzato has been banned for three months by his national Olympic committee for working with doping-accused doctor Michele Ferrari.

Italian rider Filippo Pozzato has been banned for three months by his national Olympic committee for working with doping-accused doctor Michele Ferrari.

Published Jun 28, 2012

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Rome – Italian rider Filippo Pozzato could miss this summer's London Olympics after Italy's anti-doping prosecutor recommended he serve a one-year ban for doping offences, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Thursday.

Under CONI rules, any athlete charged with a doping offence cannot compete at the Olympics until they are cleared of any wrongdoing.

With a tribunal unlikely to make a decision before the Games start on July 27, Pozzato appears destined to miss out on the showcase event.

The former Milan-San Remo winner was summoned to appear in court on June 19 to explain allegations made against him relating to his ties with Dr Michele Ferrari by daily La Republica.

The Italian federation has for several years forbidden any of their members from having contact with the controversial Ferrari, who is the subject of a Padova-based inquiry.

A fortnight ago, Ferrari also had charges brought against him the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) at the same time as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and four other people.

Pozzato pulled out of the Giro D'Italia last month after suffering a right wrist fracture on the 10th stage.

His Farnese Vini team will not compete in this summer's Tour de France. – Sapa-AFP

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