Case opens against alleged Pantani dealers

On the first anniversary of the death of Marco Pantani, the district attorney in Rimini yesterday officially accused three alleged drug dealers of supplying Pantani with the cocaine that led to his fatal overdose in February last year.

The three - Fabio Miradossa (29), Ciro Veneruso (31), and Fabio Carlino (27) - were originally named by the office of district attorney Paolo Gengarelli, making this official accusation somewhat of a formality, with court proceedings expected to begin some time mid-year.

Charges of handling drugs - but not of dealing - were also laid against Jelena Korowina, believed to have been Pantani's girlfriend at the time of his death, and Ramirez Cueva.