Dope of the day number 2... Alessandro Petacchi

Almost sorry to put Alessandro here, but he did fail a doping test - for Salbutamol - despite having a medical release registered with the UCI that allows him to use it legitimately. The problem is the quantity. Does it remind you at all of the old caffeine chestnut? Yes, caffeine wakes you up and gets you going, and it even mobilises fat use; but should we ban it outright at any level of use? What about coffee addicts? Aren't we human after all? Just insert "salbutamol" for "caffeine" and ask the same questions. Well, OK, we aren't all coffee drinkers - or asthmatics. And there do seem to be a lot of "puffers" out at the start of bike races though, eh?

Again from Cyclingnews.com:
CONI appeal on Petacchi set Alessandro Petacchi may return to competition this week, but he's not out of hot water yet. While the Italian cycling federation cleared the Milram man on charges stemming from a 'non-negative' doping control from the Giro d'Italia, the decision was appealed by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) which wants to see a one year ban. The date for the appeal has been set for August 11 according to the Italian federation. Petacchi was left off his team's roster for the Tour de France, and spent the month instead awaiting a decision by the antidoping authorities on punishment for a urine test which showed he had more than the allowable amount of the asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during the Giro d'Italia. The rider claimed that he had simply used too much of his asthma inhaler.