Bastianelli fronts CONI inquiry

Italian cyclist Marta Bastianelli has been questioned by the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor on the same day her would-be Olympic Games team-mates arrived in China. Bastianelli, the current women's UCI World Road Champion, was thrown off the Italian squad after testing non-negative for dietary aid flenfluramine, during a routine doping control at the European championships held in Italy in June.

With the close proximity to this weekend's Olympic road race, the Italian was unable to contest her dumping from the line-up. Instead she offered details on her case and is hopeful of returning to competition in time to defend her World Championship later this year.

Bastianelli has said she took the product to lose some weight and did not believe it was a banned substance, but rather an herbal product. The rider had earlier hit out at her medical advisor in the fallout from the test.

"I am sorry," Bastianelli had told Reuters. "I hope the investigation brings out the truth. I want to show everyone this is not technical doping."