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Wednesday, 27 June 2007 |
Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi denies doping
Italian racing cyclist Alessandro Petacchi has denied the charge of doping following a "non-negative" test for the asthma drug salbutalmol at this year's Giro d'Italia.
A "non-negative" category is given when testing discovers a substance, which may be legal if the person tested has a medical certificate showing why they were prescribed the drug.
Alessandro Petacchi, 33, is a known asthma sufferer, and so he is permitted to use a certain dosage of salbutamol. Because of this Alessandro Petacchi now urgently wants to show any overuse was simply an error and not intentional doping.
"I may have done one spray more but I have done nothing illegal," Alessandro Petacchi explained.
The International Cycling Union stated that Alessandro Petacchi had tested for salbutamol at Pinerolo on 23 May, which was when he won the third of his five stage victories in the Giro this year.
If Alessandro Petacchi cannot clear his name his team may withdraw him from the Tour de France, which begins on 7 July, and he could be banned from cycling for two years.
"What can I do to demonstrate my good faith? I do not want to miss the Tour," Alessandro Petacchi is quoted as having said in the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 July 2007 )
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