August 9, 2008 (Rome, Italy) – Emanuele Sella (CSF-Navigare) has confessed to using CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator), a new version of EPO reports CP. Sella made the confession during a meeting Friday with the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) according to a statement issued by his lawyer, but few details were released.

“I have got a weight off my shoulders. I’m conscious of what I did and as a result I decided to cooperate,” Sella told Gazzetta dello Sport after the hearing. Sella, 27, was winner of three stages at the 2008 Giro where he finished sixth overall. Since the news broke of his positive doping test Sella has been suspended from his team.

Meanwhile, reigning Road World Champion Marta Bastianelli (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan) confessed a taking a banned stimulant flenfluramine used for dieting. Bastianelli, 21, pleaded not guilty maintaining that she took the stimulant unknowingly. CONI nonetheless ruled that Bastianelli will not compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.