June 28, 2007 – Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) has been temporarily suspended by his team but a team spokesman added that this suspension is not official according to AFP. It is hoped Petacchi can resolve the situation before the Tour de France starts on July 7. This is in connection with his use of salbutamol during the 2007 Giro.

Petacchi, 33, who suffers from asthma, has a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to use salbutamol, a fast-acting bronchodilator commonly used to treat asthma and marketed in North America under the brand name, Ventolin(tm). Large doses of salbutamol, however, can have an effect similar to anabolic steroids.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) therefore puts a ceiling of 1,000 nanograms of salbutamol per millilitre of urine. Petacchi is under investigation because he tested at 1,320 nanograms after the 11th stage – one of the five stages he won at the 2007 Giro – according to a report in Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport, a daily newspaper based in Milan.

The case has been transferred to the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) which will prosecute Petacchi. The case will be heard before the Italian cycling federation or Federazione Ciclistica Italiana (FCI). It is understood that all parties want a decision as soon as possible.