Piepoli cleared

Leonardo Piepoli has been cleared of doping charges by Monaco's cycling federation. The Saunier Duval rider had tested positive for the asthma medication Salbutamol during the Giro d'Italia, a medication for which he has a medical exemption.

CONI, the Italian Olympic committee, had pressed the charges against Piepoli, and did not have an immediate reaction to his acquittal.

Piepoli had been scheduled to ride the Deutschland Tour, but his name was withdrawn at the last minute. He wants to return to racing as soon as possible, though. "I hope to be at the start of the Volta a Burgos next week," he said, according to HLN.be.