Italian athletes cleared of evading doping tests

Former pole vault world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco was one of five Italian athletes cleared of evading doping tests by the country's anti-doping tribunal.

Former pole vault world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco was one of five Italian athletes cleared of evading doping tests by the country's anti-doping tribunal on Friday.

The other athletes cleared by the Italian National Olympic Committee's anti-doping court were sprinter Jacques Riparelli, javelin thrower Roberto Bertolini, 400m runner Marco Francesco Vistalli and triple jumper Fabrizio Schembri.

In December, Italy's anti-doping prosecutor requested two-year bans for a group of 26 athletes for “evading, refusing or failing to submit themselves to provide samples” as well as breaching rules about informing doping authorities of their out-of-competition whereabouts.

The cases were then sent to the national anti-doping court, with 18 of 26 athletes since cleared of wrongdoing.

Olympic triple jump bronze medallist Fabrizio Donato, 2007 world long jump silver medallist Andrew Howe and Daniele Greco, the 2013 European indoor triple jump champion, were among those cleared in March.– AFP