Juve contest doctor bans in Cannavaro case

January 22, 2010

Juventus have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against two-month bans handed out to two club doctors.

Bartolomeo Goitre and Luca Stefanini were hit by the suspensions after giving a banned substance to Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro after he was stung by a wasp.

The centre-back escaped punishment for taking the substance but the troubled club’s doctors have instead been sanctioned by Italy’s national anti-doping body.

“We take into account the sanctions handed out by the national anti-doping body but remain firm in our conviction that the doctors Goitre and Stefanini offered the maximum collaboration with the relevant sporting institutions,” said a brief club statement.

Juventus applied for a doping exemption but failed to include all the necessary documents and Cannavaro subsequently failed a dope test following a match against AS Roma.

The former World Player of the Year was exonerated of any blame in November.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: arbitration, captain Fabio Cannavaro, collaboration, conviction, court of arbitration for sport, doctors, dope test, fabio cannavaro, goitre, institutions, Luca, match, necessary documents, ROME, sanctions, stefanini, suspensions, wasp

Cannavaro doping doctors in court

November 26, 2009

Two Juventus club doctors who gave a banned drug to Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro after he was stung by a wasp are facing a three-month suspension from football.

That is the recommendation put forward by Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) prosecutors on Thursday for Bartolomeo Goitre and Luca Stefanini.

Cannavaro failed a dope test in late August after taking a medicine that contained the banned substance cortisone, given to him by his club’s doctors, after he was stung by a wasp.

The former World Player of the Year then requested a doping exemption on the grounds that it was emergency medication but his request was missing a document and while awaiting a decision he was subjected to an anti-doping test, which returned a positive result.

Coni then announced in mid-October that it was dismissing the case against him, after which Cannavaro launched a furious tirade at the press for their coverage of the incident.

“I have a clean conscience. Someone gets stung by a bee and then he finds themselves in the newspapers as if he had doped,” he said at the time.

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

ROME (AFP)

Tags: anti doping test, Bartolomeo, captain Fabio Cannavaro, coni, conscience, cortisone, doctors, dope test, emergency medication, fabio cannavaro, goitre, Italian, italian olympic committee, Italy, juventus club, late august, medication, newspapers, prosecutors, ROME, television stations, tirade, wasp, world player of the year

Italy considering altitude training for World Cup

October 13, 2009

Italy is considering training at high altitude before traveling to the World Cup in South Africa.

The defending champion was sluggish in June at the Confederations Cup, playing each of its games on the high veldt in Johannesburg and Pretoria, where the altitude approaches 1,750 meters (6,000 feet) at some points.

Abandoning their normal training base near Florence, the Azzurri could head to the Alps in northern Italy come May.

The idea had the support of captain Fabio Cannavaro, who said Monday: “Going to prepare for the World Cup at altitude in Italy would be a good idea to avoid the problems we encountered at the Confederations Cup. It’s better not to leave anything to chance.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Alps, Azzurri, captain Fabio Cannavaro, confederations cup, defending champion, fabio cannavaro, Florence, games, high altitude, high veldt, Italy, johannesburg, northern italy, pretoria, South Africa, World Cup

Cannavaro fails dope test, claims it´s medicine

October 9, 2009

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has failed a dope test after taking a medicine that contained the banned substance cortisone, it was revealed on Thursday.

The former World Player of the Year was allegedly stung by a wasp and took a medicine that contained cortisone on August 29.

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 an anti-doping test, which returned a positive result.

Sources close to his club Juventus have claimed he took nothing more than an anti-allergy medicine.

The Italian Football Federation (Figc) claimed they were immediately made aware of the situation as Juventus had sent a copy of the exemption request to their doctor just before Cannavaro joined up with the national team ahead of matches against Georgia and Bulgaria on September 5 and 9.

Cannavaro is currently on international duty once again, preparing for Italy’s last two World Cup qualifiers against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and then at home to Cyprus on Wednesday.

Cannavaro is suspended for the Ireland match but was expected to return to the team he captained to World Cup glory in 2006 for the Cyprus game.

He is due to be interviewed by the Italian Olympic Committee’s (Coni) anti-doping prosecutor Etorre Torri on Friday morning in Turin.

Coni released a statement on its website explaining the circumstances of the positive test without revealing if any action has been taken against the player.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: allergy medicine, anti doping test, bulgaria, captain Fabio Cannavaro, coni, cortisone, Cyprus, dope test, dublin, exemption request, fabio cannavaro, FIGC, friday morning, Georgia, Ireland, italian football federation, italian olympic committee, Italy, prosecutor, ROME, torri, turin, wasp, world cup glory, world cup qualifiers, world player of the year

Cannavaro out for two-three weeks

September 18, 2009

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro faces up to three weeks on the sidelines with a groin problem, his club Juventus said on Thursday.

Brazilian Felipe Melo and Portuguese Tiago will also miss a week each after all three players were injured during Tuesday’s Champions League 1-1 home draw with Bordeaux.

Felipe Melo has an ankle problem while Tiago has hurt his thigh.

All three will miss Saturday’s Serie A visit of Livorno although full-back Zdenek Grygera is fit again but Diego, Alessandro Del Piero and Hasan Salihamidzic are all likely to miss out.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, Bordeaux, captain Fabio Cannavaro, champions league, Diego, fabio cannavaro, felipe melo, groin problem, grygera, Hasan Salihamidzic, Italy, livorno, portuguese, ROME, sidelines, tiago, Zdenek Grygera

Mourinho irked by Cannavaro’s career advice

September 4, 2009

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro came under fire from Jose Mourinho on Thursday after annoying the Inter Milan coach with his career advice for teenage fullback Davide Santon.

Juventus defender Cannavaro suggested the 18-year-old might have to leave Inter in January to land a place in the Azzurri’s World Cup squad next year if he is not playing regularly for the Serie A champions.

Santon made his Italy debut in June after some impressive performances for Inter in the second half of last season, but Mourinho did not use him in their first two league games this term.

“Players like him and (Inter’s 19-year-old striker) Mario Balotelli must play and not in training,” Cannavaro told reporters at a training camp for Italy’s World Cup qualifiers in Georgia on Saturday and at home to Bulgaria on Wednesday.

“He must find a way to play,” he added when asked what Santon should do if he is still not getting any action in January.

“Otherwise, he risks missing the World Cup.”

Mourinho hit back by warning Cannavaro that his Juventus team mates might be the ones who end up taking his advice.

“Cannavaro is still a player but he talks like a coach, director of sport or president,” Mourinho told Inter’s website – www.inter.it.

“But he is mistaken and he forgets some details that do not concern Inter.

“For example, given that he and (Giorgio) Chiellini play at Juve, (Nicola) Legrottaglie must evaluate whether to change team in January or he’ll miss the World Cup.

“And young talent (Sebastian) Giovinco must assess his options for the future well too.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Azzurri, bulgaria, captain Fabio Cannavaro, career advice, debut, fabio cannavaro, impressive performances, inter milan, Italy, Jose, jose mourinho, league games, Mario Balotelli, Milan, Nicola Legrottaglie, sebastian, sebastian giovinco, second half, team mates, training camp, website www, world cup qualifiers, world cup squad

Benaglio foils Italian job, as the Azzurri’s draw against the Swiss

August 13, 2009

World Cup holders Italy, who had an embarrassing Confederations Cup display in June, were foiled by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio in a 0-0 draw with Switzerland at Basel, in Wednesday’s friendly.

Benaglio helped Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team extend their unbeaten run to seven games while captain Fabio Cannavaro made a record-breaking 127th appearance for Italy, overtaking Paolo Maldini.

The keeper made two excellent close-range saves in the 13th minute and, although the world champions scrambled the ball home at the third attempt, the goal was disallowed for a foul.

Two minutes later Benaglio made another fine stop after debutant Claudio Marchisio was sent through by Giuseppe Rossi.

In between, Alberto Gilardino chipped over the bar after another incisive pass by the lively Rossi as Italy, beaten by Brazil and Egypt two months ago in South Africa, took early control.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was tested for the first time in the 24th minute when he tipped over Tranquillo Barnetta’s shot.

Both teams had chances in the second half, Barnetta wasting Switzerland’s best effort when he failed to make proper contact with Blaise Nkufo’s pass.

Benaglio again did well to stop an angled effort by Vincenzo Iaquinta, who also shot wide after breaking free of the defence.

The game petered out in the last 20 minutes after both teams made six substitutions.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: alberto gilardino, best effort, Blaise, Blaise Nkufo, brazil, captain Fabio Cannavaro, claudio marchisio, close range, confederations cup, debutant, diego benaglio, Egypt, gianluigi buffon, Giuseppe Rossi, italian job, Italy, italy goalkeeper gianluigi buffon, ottmar hitzfeld, paolo maldini, rajput, seven games, South Africa, Switzerland, third attempt, tranquillo barnetta, world champions, world cup holders

Is Cannavaro right about Italy and Serie A needing an overhaul?

June 24, 2009

Italy’s entire soccer infrastructure needs an overhaul, captain Fabio Cannavaro said after the world champions arrived home from their Confederations Cup nightmare.

Elimination in the group stages after defeats to Egypt and Brazil followed a difficult few weeks for Serie A, with AC Milan’s Kaka sold to Real Madrid and other top players threatening to leave the stuttering league.

“We need reconstruction and not just the national team. Let’s start with the infrastructure, the stadiums, but also the youth teams,” the 35-year-old Juventus defender told reporters.

Pundits have said Italy have too many ageing players and that coach Marcello Lippi is wrong to expect them to repeat their 2006 World Cup success in South Africa next year.

Domestically, Serie A clubs are losing out on revenue because, unlike English sides, they do not own their stadiums.

Milan have also said favourable Spanish tax laws make it difficult to compete in the transfer market with La Liga.

No Italian side reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season and few big name players look likely to head to Serie A for next term.

Promoting young Italians such as Inter Milan’s teenage fullback Davide Santon is the obvious answer but Cannavaro warned that the quality was lacking.

“Enough with this story about the oldies, if I really annoy people then my place is up for grabs but Lippi makes the decisions,” added the defender, who equalled Paolo Maldini’s all-time Italy caps record of 126 against Brazil.

“I don’t see any phenomenons around in Italian football. There are no more Tottis, Baggios or Del Pieros. Today it is enough for a defender to be tall, cute, blonde and a dribbler and they think that makes them a good player.”

AS Roma striker Francesco Totti has retired from international football while fellow World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, 34, has been overlooked by Lippi for almost a year.

PHOTOS: Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro (R) challenges Brazil’s Luis Fabiano during their Confederations Cup soccer match at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 21, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Go to Source

Tags: ac milan, Alessandro Del Piero, brazil, captain Fabio Cannavaro, coach marcello lippi, Del Pieros, Dylan Martinez, Egypt, fabio cannavaro, francesco totti, group stages, inter milan, italian football, italian side, Italy, luis fabiano, MADRID, maldini, Milan, paolo maldini, phenomenons, pieros, Roma, santon, Serie, South Africa, spanish tax, world cup success, world cup winner, young italians

Egypt hail historic Confed victory as Italy mourn

June 19, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Egypt hailed its shock victory over world champions Italy in the Confederations Cup as one of its best ever, but for Marcello Lippi’s men it was a disaster.

The African Nations Cup holders stunned the Italians 1-0 late on Thursday as they cracked under pressure to leave their tournament fate in limbo.

Mohamed Homos scored the only goal in the 40th minute to hand them a famous victory in front of 51,000 fans, but they also had goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary to thank for pulling off a string of fine saves.

Egypt and Italy are now level on three points in Group B with the Pharoahs favourites to go through to the semi-finals.

They face the United States on Sunday while Italy must play Brazil, who have two wins out of two so far.

“We played better than them for the 90 minutes. This will go down in Egyptian history as they are the world champions,” said Egypt deputy coach Shawky Gharib.

“Playing them was a scary feeling at times but we controlled the match and excelled.

“We were playing in the name of African football because we represent Africa and we did Africa proud.”

Lippi put a brave face on their loss, but will be hugely disappointed knowing his team face an uphill task against Brazil to make the business end of the tournament.

“Egypt played two very good matches, a fantastic second half against Brazil and an excellent first half against us,” he said, referring to Egypt’s agonising 4-3 loss to the South Americans.

“We picked it up after half time and the players always have the will to react, but they didn’t make it because their goalie was fantastic.

“We almost got the ball in the net three or four times, I think we deserved at least one goal.”

Egypt made one change from their last match and it was an inspired move, with Homos replacing 35-year-old captain Ahmed Hassan.

Lippi welcomed back his captain Fabio Cannavaro, who missed their 3-1 win over the United States with a calf strain, and brought in Fabio Quagliarella and Giuseppe Rossi, their two-goal hero from Monday.

The game started quietly with AC Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta having Italy’s first shot on goal after seven minutes, but it was a feeble effort that didn’t trouble El Hadary.

Villarreal’s American-born striker Rossi let rip with a left foot rocket soon after only to see it flash over the bar as Italy pressed the attack.

But Egypt also had their moments, with Mohamed Aboutrika causing problems in the Italian box.

It was Italy, though, who looked more likely to score with Juventus man Vincenzo Iaquinta and Rossi both forcing saves from Al-Hadary within the space of a minute midway through the half.

Not to be outdone, Egypt responded with a sustained period of pressure that ended with the goal from Homos who rose to meet a corner from Aboutrika and head the ball past Gianluigi Buffon.

The Italians had also gone one down against the United States and fought back to win, and they began the second half with a sense of urgency.

They should have equalised when Iaquinta found himself unmarked in the box but his control was poor and Al-Hadary scrambled the ball clear.

Lippi brought Luca Toni on and took Rossi off but Italy couldn’t find the breakthrough with Al-Hadary solid as a rock in the Egyptian goal, pulling off save after save to keep his team in front.

Italy had one last chance as the seconds ticked down but AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo sent his freekick over the bar to end a miserable night for Italy and a memorable one for Egypt.

Tags: Africa, african football, african nations cup, Al-Hadary, andrea pirlo, brave face, brazil, business end, calf strain, captain Ahmed Hassan, captain Fabio Cannavaro, Egypt, egyptian history, essam, fabio cannavaro, Fabio Quagliarella, Giuseppe Rossi, goal hero, Goalkeeper, homos, Iaquinta, Italy, johannesburg, last match, marcello lippi, Milan, old captain, semi finals, Serie A, South Americans, team face, Toni, United States, uphill task, world champions, World Cup

Egypt shock Italy 1-0 at Confed Cup

June 19, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Egypt shocked Italy 1-0 on Thursday as the world champions cracked under pressure to leave their Confederations Cup fate in limbo.

Mohamed Homos was their hero with his 40th minute header enough to hand them a famous victory in front of 51,000 fans, but they also had goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary to thank for pulling off a string of fine saves.

Egypt and Italy are now level on three points in Group B with the Pharoahs favourites to go through to the semi-finals.

They face the United States on Sunday while Italy must play Brazil, who have two wins out of two so far.

Egypt coach Hassan Shehata said before the game that African pride was at stake and his team was bubbling with confidence after pushing Brazil hard in their gallant 4-3 defeat on Monday.

The African Nations Cup champions’ made one change from that match and it was an inspired move, with Homos replacing 35-year-old captain Ahmed Hassan, the country’s most capped player.

Marcello Lippi welcomed back his captain Fabio Cannavaro, who missed their 3-1 win over the United States with a calf strain, as Nicolas Legrottaglie made way for the Real Madrid star.

There were two other changes with Fabio Quagliarella in for Mauro Camoranesi while Giuseppe Rossi, their two-goal hero from Monday, replaced Alberto Gilardino.

The game started quietly with AC Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta having Italy’s first shot on goal after seven minutes, but it was a feeble effort that didn’t trouble El Hadary.

Villarreal’s American-born striker Rossi let rip with a left foot rocket soon after only to see it flash over the bar as Italy pressed the attack.

But Egypt also had their moments, with Mohamed Aboutrika causing problems in the Italian box, going close after 15 minutes in his team’s best chance till then.

It was Italy, though, who looked more likely to score with Juventus man Vincenzo Iaquinta and Rossi both forcing saves from Al-Hadary within the space of a minute midway through the half.

Not to be outdone, Egypt responded with a sustained period of pressure that ended with the goal from Homos who rose to meet a corner from Aboutrika and head the ball past Gianluigi Buffon to rock Italy.

The Italians had also gone one down against the United States and fought back to win, and they began the second half with a sense of urgency.

They should have equalised when Iaquinta found himself unmarked in the box but his control was poor and Al-Hadary scrambled the ball clear.

Lippi brought Luca Toni on and took Rossi off but Italy couldn’t find the breakthrough with Al-Hadary solid as a rock in the Egyptian goal, pulling off save after save to keep his team in front.

Italy had one last chance as the seconds ticked down but AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo sent his freekick sailing over the bar to end a miserable night for Italy and a memorable one for Egypt.