Italian Olympic Committee takes appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport
ROME -- The Italian Olympic Committee appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday to have cyclist Alessandro Petacchi banned for using an asthma drug.
The Italian cycling federation cleared Petacchi of any wrongdoing last month. He registered a "non-negative" test for salbutamol after winning the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia on May 23.
Petacchi is authorized by the International Cycling Union to use a certain amount of salbutamol as part of his regular medication, Ventolin. Elevated levels of the drug can have performance-enhancing effects.
Petacchi was removed from Milram's Tour de France team when CONI recommended a one-year ban two days before the start of the race. CONI is still seeking a one-year ban in its appeal to the Switzerland-based arbitration court.
Petacchi started racing for Milram again after the federation's initial ruling and won the first leg of the Regio Tour on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Petacchi won five stages during this year's Giro and has 24 Giro stage wins in his career. He also has won four Tour de France stages.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
