Eight cleared of doping offences by CONI

Olympic bronze medallist Fabrizio Donato is among eight athletes who have been cleared of evading doping tests by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Donato, who won bronze in the triple jump at the 2012 Olympic Games, and 25 other athletes were left facing two-year bans in December having been accused of avoiding doping tests by the National Anti-Doping Organisation.

The allegations came following an investigation by prosecutors in the city of Bolzano.

But Donato, Andrew Howe, Daniele Meucci,??Daniele Greco, Ruggero Pertile, Silvia Salis, Anna Incerti and Andrea Lalli have all now been acquitted.

American-born Howe won silver in the long jump at the 2007 World Championships, while Meucci took gold in the marathon at the European Championships in 2014.

Decisions on the remaining 18 accused athletes have yet to be made.