Rebellin ordered to hand back Olympic silver medal

Davide Rebellin, the Italian cyclist who finished second to Spain’s Samuel Sanchez in last year’s Olympic Road Race in Beijing, has been ordered to hand his silver medal back by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

In April this year, shortly after the 38-year-old had won the Flèche Wallonne for the second time, Rebellin was revealed to have tested positive for CERA in a sample taken at the Olympics. His agent subsequently asked for the rider’s B sample to be analysed, and that too proved positive.

News of the IOC’s decision was communicated to Rebellin by CONI, the Italian national Olympic committee, which is considering what further action to take against the Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli rider, who is currently suspended. The most likely outcome would appear to be a two-year ban – something that, given his age, would almost certainly end the cyclist’s career.

Meanwhile, cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has asked the IOC to modify the result of the race due to Rebellin’s disqualification. That would see bronze medalist Fabian Cancellara move into silver, which would go nicely with the gold he won in the Time Trial, while Russia’s Alexander Kolobnev would take bronze.