Soccer:Fabio Cannavaro is delighted he is close to being cleared of any wrongdoing over a failed drugs test, although he insists he never expected anything less.

The Juventus and Italy defender tested positive for the banned substance cortisone after taking a medicine to treat an insect sting in August.

He had requested an exemption from taking drugs tests, on the grounds of having taken a medication in an emergency situation, but failed to include a document necessary to complete the application.

However, the Italian Olympic Committee’s (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri has now asked for the case to be dropped.

“I am happy that the prosecutor has asked for my case to be dismissed acknowledging the good faith and correctness of my behaviour,” said Cannavaro.

“I didn’t have any doubt that would happen and I am upset that a story of this sort has generated so much fuss.

“In these past three days, as has already happened in the past, I have been part of a campaign by some media who associated my name with too much nonchalance to doping.

“My personal history and my career proves my respect for the sport and for the ethical principles which support it.”

Torri has asked the national anti-doping tribunal to drop the case against the 36-year-old, adding that “one can exclude Cannavaro from any responsibility, even only mere negligence”.