Pantini had cocaine overdose

An inquest into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of fallen Italian cycling hero Marco Pantani has found that he died of a cocaine overdose.

Pantani was found dead in a Rimini hotel room on February 14 and several packets of half-empty sedatives were found beside the 34-year-old, who was also known to have a cocaine habit.

Police have since been searching suspects who, it is believed, supplied Pantani with cocaine prior to his death. Pantani's death shocked the whole of Italy and the cycling world.