Italian sprint superstar Alessandro Petacchi on Wednesday learned he faces a one-year ban for the use of a banned stimulant and will miss this year's Tour de France.
Petacchi, 33, was determined to make the Tour and begged for leniency from the Italian Olympic Committee's disciplinary body this week.
He presented a medical certificate stating the substance, salbutamol, could be used for his asthma condition.
But the cycling federation prosecutor rejected his plea and asked for a one-year ban.
Even if the ban is not handed down Petacchi will miss the start of the race on Saturday.
About 40% of professional cyclists claim they have asthma.
Nicknamed 'Ale-Jet', Petacchi took over the mantle of world's top sprinter from Lion King Mario Cipollini three years ago.
His explosive speed has seen him take several stage victories in all three of the Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana).
In 2004 he won a record nine stages at the Giro d'Italia and in 2005 pulled his first victory in a major Classic race, triumphing at the Milan-San Remo.
He withdrew from the 2006 Giro d'Italia after crashing during the third stage. It was subsequently discovered that he had finished the stage with a fractured kneecap.
In 2007, he returned and won five stages in the 2007 Giro d'Italia.
