Pantani post-mortem results unclear

Former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani died from severe swelling in his brain and heart, a post-mortem showed today, although the reason for these catastrophic symptoms was still unclear.

Dr Giuseppe Fortuni said further tests were necessary, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

Results should come within two weeks, he said.

Controversial cycling star Pantani, the 1998 Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner, was found dead in a hotel room in the seaside resort of Rimini on Saturday.

The Italian sporting hero had suffered from depression in the past, but prosecutors have played down the possibility of suicide – a widespread speculation in the Italian media.