WADA prepared to allow new trial for banned Italian duo

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Tuesday it would not stand in the way of an appeal by two Italian footballers banned for a year after turning up late for a 2007 drugs test.

Napoli winger Daniele Mannini and Brescia striker Davide Possanzini were suspended last month by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after WADA challenged the original 15-day ban issued by the Italian Olympic Committee.

CAS partially upheld WADA’s appeal, finding a two-year ban would have been the normal mandatory punishment but reducing it to one year after ruling the players bore “no significant fault” for providing the late samples.

“We are not saying we would support a lesser sanction,” WADA director general David Howman told a news briefing.

“But we received an application from the players concerned for the case to be reopened and we have said to the court if they have the ability to do that, we will not oppose it.

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