Former pole vault world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco on Wednesday received a two-year ban for doping.
The Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) disciplinary panel gave Gibilisco, 28, the full term recommended two weeks ago by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
CONI's deputy anti-doping prosecutor Franco Cosenza said he was pleased because the FIDAL panel "has recognised the work done by the prosecutors".
Gibilisco, who had been hoping to avoid a ban in order to be able to compete in this year's world championships and next year's Olympics, said the verdict was "unfair" and he would appeal.
"Of course we're going to appeal. They'll have to explain this sentence. I'm obviously disappointed because I'm now in a right mess, without knowing why. All I did was go to a doctor who receives people openly, by appointment".
Earlier, in arguing his case before the FIDAL panel, Gibilisco said he had always trained at the federation's facilities, taken dozens of tests, and never dodged a random anti-doping visit.
On July 6 CONI said FIDAL should give Gibilisco the maximum punishment for "use or the attempted use of forbidden substances or methods".
Gibilisco won gold in the pole vault at the 2003 world championships and took bronze a year later at the Athens Olympics.
The accusations against the athlete are the result of a wider probe into the activities of Italian sports doctor Carlo Santuccione.
Unless FIDAL's appeals panel quashes the ban, Gibilisco will miss the Athletics world championships in Osaka in August and September and next year's Olympics in Beijing.
Prominent cyclists are also allegedly among Santuccione's list of patients.
This year's Giro D'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca has been summoned to a doping hearing next week at the offices of CONI, which is the governing body of all sport in Italy.
He has said he has a "clear conscience".
Doping prosecutors have requested the Italian Cycling Federation ban sprinter Alessandro Petacchi for one year for testing 'not negative' for salbutamol during the 2007 Giro.
Petacchi, who won five stages during the race, has a medical certificate that authorises him to use salbutamol for asthma.
But prosecutors decided to press charges because the tests showed excessively high levels of the drug in his body.
He faces a hearing on July 24.
Petacchi missed the current Tour de France because of the investigation.
