Italian fencer Andrea Baldini, who failed a dope test last month, had the existence of a banned diuretic confirmed in his B-sample yesterday, the Italian fencing federation (FIS) said.

Baldini has asked for a DNA test to be carried out on the samples.

Baldini, one of Italy's top hopes for a medal at the Beijing Games, tested positive for the diuretic furosemide at the European championships in Kiev. He was excluded from the Olympic team on Friday and his place given to European champion Andrea Cassara.

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