Cannavaro fuming despite dope test reprieve

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro said Monday he was still enraged by the question marks placed against him after he failed a dope test in August, for which he has now been exonerated.

Cannavaro hit out at the press for their coverage of his failed test but later on Monday the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) announced it was dismissing the case against him, as had been requested by Coni's anti-doping prosecutor.

Details of the failed test emerged last week ahead of Italy's 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw in Ireland that secured the world champions' passage to South Africa next year.

Cannavaro was suspended for that game but has rejoined his international team-mates for Wednesday's now meaningless qualifier at home to Cyprus.

Although he failed a dope test, due to having the banned substance cortisone in his system, his club Juventus explained that he had been given an emergency injection after his arm swelled up due to an insect sting.

Juve said they submitted a request for a medical exemption but it was missing a document and in the meantime Cannavaro failed the test on August 29.


But that hasn't improved the former world player of the year's mood.

"I have a clean conscience. Someone gets stung by a bee and then he finds themselves in the newspapers as if he had doped.

"When that happened I thought I was dreaming. Some newspapers and television stations went too far.

"It's the second time I've found myself in the newspapers for a story of this type."

Cannavaro was referring to an incident during his time with Parma, which was revealed in a 2005 film showing him receiving a substance via a drip.

"That time it was stupid to allow myself to be filmed, even if the substance wasn't banned," he said.

"This time it was Juventus's mistake (in not submitting the right documents) but it was still blown out of all proportion.

"I hope this doubt won't follow me now, my career has been exemplary and always conducted within the rules."