ROME, Aug 7: Italy foil fencer Andrea Baldini, who this week was banned from the Beijing Olympics after failing a drugs test on Thursday told the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) he was innocent.

Baldini’s lawyer confirmed the fencer had spent two hours at the Coni appeal, adding that he did not want to reveal any more details of the meeting.

“Our conviction is that Baldini did not take a substance intended to manipulate the race for which he was tested,” the lawyer said.

The world No 1, who had tested positive for furosemide at the European Championships last month, on Monday failed a B sample test – dashing any slim hopes he had of appearing at Beijing.—AFP