Rome - Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was on Monday cleared by the nation's Olympic Committee (CONI) over a doping case.

Cannavaro tested positive for cortisone on August 29, but said the substance was used to treat a bee sting.

His club Juventus Turin informed the CONI about the treatment before the doping test but a CONI reply was reportedly left unopened at the Turin club.

Cortisone can be used for therapeutical reasons if the relevant anti-doping authorities grant its use beforehand.

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.

Pretoria, South Africa  - Former World Footballer of the Year Fabio Cannavaro seems likely to miss Italy's opening Group B Confederations Cup match against the US in Pretoria on Monday.

The defender, who needs just three more games to break Paolo Maldini's record of 126 games for the Azzurri, is suffering from an injury to his right calf and could possibly also miss his side's second game against Egypt.

Rome - Veteran defender Fabio Cannavaro is back at Juventus after a three-year stint with Real Madrid, the web site of the Turin club announced Tuesday.

"I'm happy to be back in Turin and to have the opportunity to don again the black-white jersey, Cannavaro said. "I'm sorry that, for some of the fans, grudge prevails on the appreciation of the (two) glorious seasons we lived together.

Rome  - Veteran defender Fabio Cannavaro has decided to rejoin Serie A club Juventus after three seasons at Spanish giants Real Madrid, Italy's Sky TV reported on Sunday.

The 35-year-old international, whose contract with Real expires in June, is expected to play the next season with Juve before taking a managerial role within the Turin club. His first stint at the club was 2004-2006.

Cannavaro captained Italy to their fourth World Cup triumph in 2006, when he received the FIFA World player and the Ballon d'Or awards. (dpa)

Madrid - Fabio Cannavaro will be out of action for at least a week after pulling a muscle in his right thigh in Wednesday's Greece-Italy friendly.

Cannavaro, 35, will miss Real Madrid's home game against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday, as well as Tuesday's Champions League clash away to BATE Borisov.