Former Italy striker Giuseppe
Rossi got off with a rap on the knuckles for using a banned
substance on Monday.
The Italian anti-doping agency (NADO) court went no further
than apportioning "blame" in the use of dorzolamide.
Sporting prosecutors requested that a tribunal ban Rossi for
one year.
The 31-year-old tested positive for a substance that is
allowed only in one specific case after playing for Genoa in a
1-0 defeat at Benevento in Serie A last season,.
When asked about the positive test by anti-doping agency Nado
Italia, Rossi allegedly failed to give an adequate explanation
as to why the substance was in his system.
United States-born Rossi was long considered one of Italian
football's top prospects, but his career has been hampered by a
long series of injuries.
The former Parma, Villarreal and Fiorentina forward is a free
agent after parting company with Genoa at the end of last
season.
Genoa coach Davide Ballardini said: "I don't have many
certainties in life but one is that Giuseppe Rossi can't have
used banned substances.
"And I'm certain that Rossi didn't".
Rossi himself said "I have always been clean, this is a clear
case to be shelved: the positive test is due to an involuntary
food contamination".
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