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ROMA, Aug 7, 2008 (AFP) - Italian cyclists Marta Bastianelli and Emanuele Sella, who have both recently failed drugs tests, were banned from all competitions by the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) on Thursday.

The ban means Bastianelli, 21, the 2007 women’s race race world champion, will miss the Beijing Olympics.

CSF team rider Sella tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) last month following three stage wins at the Tour of Italy.