Bastianelli and Sella suspended by CONI

World road champion Marta Bastianelli and Giro d'Italia king of the mountains Emanuele Sella have both been suspended from competition following failed doping controls, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Thursday.

The anti-doping tribunal of the CONI met in a closed session and accepted the recommendation of prosecutor Ettore Torri. Bastianelli tested positive for a stimulant, flenfluramine, during the U23 European Championships on July 5. She had been removed from the Italian Olympic team after the news of the positive became public.

The 21-year-old pled not guilty in a hearing on Tuesday and blamed a diet pill for the positive test.

Emanuele Sella, winner of three stages in the Giro 2008, tested positive for the third generation EPO called CERA, in an out of competition control conducted by the UCI. He will be heard Friday by the CONI anti-doping prosecutors.