THE Italian athletic federation, FIDAL, yesterday named women's high jumper Antonella Bevilacqua, who recently failed two dope tests for the banned stimulant ephedrine, in its Olympic squad.
The squad has to be approved formally by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) at a meeting this week.
Bevilacqua, Italy's only high jump hopeful, failed dope tests at national meetings in Milan and Bologna last month after taking an over-the-counter Chinese herbal medicine that she assured officials she believed was safe.
Italian athletics sources said the packaging did not state ephedrine among the ingredients but referred to Ma-Huang, which turned out to be translated as Chinese Ephedra.
An Italian judicial inquiry cleared Bevilacqua of blame after the first positive test in Milan on May 4th.
FIDAL, who have sent the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) all the details of their inquiry into the first case for a final ruling, argue that there are no grounds to ban Bevilacqua.
