Italy skipper Cannavaro fails doping test

ITALIAN captain Fabio Cannavaro has failed a doping test.

Cannavaro’s club Juventus said yesterday the positive exam was the result of cortisone used to treat a bee sting. He requested an exemption on the grounds of having taken a medication in the case of an emergency but his request was missing a document and while awaiting a decision he was subjected to a test, which returned a positive result.

Cannavaro was already suspended for Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland tomorrow but he was expected to join the team for Wednesday’s game against Cyprus

The Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri has opened an investigation into the failed test.