Drugs accused Rebellin seeks B sample test

Published on Thursday 30 April 2009 22:05

OLYMPIC silver medallist Davide Rebellin has asked for his B sample to be tested after he was among six athletes named as having failed drugs tests at the Beijing Olympics.

The Italian road racer made the request through his lawyer Federico Cecconi, according to a statement issued by the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni).

On Wednesday, the IAAF announced that six athletes – including Morocco's 1,500 metres gold medallist Rashid Ramzi – had failed a new doping test for blood-boosting agent CERA. A hearing on Rebellin due for Monday has now been postponed.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Valverde will have to face the International Cycling Union as well as Coni when he appears at an anti-doping tribunal, a spokesman for the Italian committee said.

The Spanish rider, who denies wrongdoing, was charged by Coni at the start of the month with being involved in the Operacion Puerto blood-doping scandal.

Coni's anti-doping prosecutor called for a two-year ban but any suspension can be enforced only inside Italy.

A UCI delegate will be now present at the hearing in Rome on 11 May, raising the possibility of a worldwide ban.