Professor refutes drug claims

Manuela di Centa is one of the athletes mentioned in the claim

An Italian professor has denied allegations that he was involved in supplying performance-enhancing drugs to 63 athletes from his country.

Francesco Conconi was responding to accusations from prosecutor Pierluigi Soprani, who is probing doping at national level in Italian sport.

"My innocence is total and these accusations against me are infamous," Professor Conconi told Italian newspaper La Stampa.

"I will have a lot to say about the way this inquiry has been conducted. I have never harmed anyone and I have never administered harmful substances, I am not the enemy.

"The facts do not appear clear to me because among the names are those of athletes I have never seen or known."

'Distribution system'

Soprani suggests Professor Conconi was involved in a distribution system supplying substances including EPO.

Among the athletes named are cyclists Marco Pantani, Gianni Bugno, Claudio Chiappucci and Maurizio Fondriest and nordic skier Manuela di Centa.

The professor and seven members of his staff could face charges of associating with wrongdoers, sporting fraud, distribution of medicines dangerous to health, and abusing their profession.

A preliminary hearing will be held to determine whether to proceed with the charges.