Rome  - Italy's national team captain Fabio Cannavaro failed a drug test in September but could escape sanction as an anti-allergy treatment could have caused him to test positive.

Italian media reported late Thursday that Juventus, which Cannavaro joined in the summer, alerted the National Olympic committee (CONI) that the veteran defender, 36, had been treated with a cortisone injection after being stung by a hornet.

A miscommunication between Juve and CONI's anti-doping department appears to have triggered the case.

The international world champion and Ballon D'or 2006 winner is said to have already been interrogated by an anti-doping prosecutor.

Cannavaro is sidelined for Italy's World Cup qualifier Saturday at Ireland but should be available for the last Group 8 game on Wednesday against Cyprus.  dpa