January 12, 2008 – Authorities in the Italian city of Forli have reopened the investigation into the 2004 death of noted cyclist Marco Pantani according to the Swiss-based Edicom news site. Italian authorities have now been convinced by Pantani’s mother that her son did not die of a cocaine overdose, the hypothesis evoked by investigators until now, and that she suspects there was an “exterior intervention.” The Italian daily, La Repubblica, has noted that Pantani received death threats from the mafia – the original story, in French, is here

Kessler Gets Two-Year Ban and Sinkewitz Appeals His Ban
Swiss cyclist Matthias Kessler (formerly Astana) received a two-year suspension and fine of about $4,500 from professional cycling from the Swiss federation reports CNN. Kessler was tested with elevated levels of testosterone at a surprise doping test in April. Meanwhile, Patrik Sinkewitz (formerly T-Mobile), is appealing his one-year ban, also for testosterone doping, reports the same source. The disciplinary committee of the German cycling federation (BDR) recommended the sentence and a fine of about $59,000 after Sinkewitz tested positive in July, 2007. Click here for the full report.

Sprinter Marion Jones Receives Six-Month Sentence
Cycling clearly isn’t the only sport involved with doping… former Olympic Gold medal sprinter, Marion Jones, received a six month sentence for lying to federal investigators about her involvement with doping reports. Jones, 32, is the first world class athlete to end up behind bars for doping. The sprinter admitted on October 5 to taking steroids at the Sydney Olympics after many previous denials. Judge Kenneth Karas admitted that the sentence was a sad thing for the mother of a four-year-old son. Read the NY Times report here.