Cannavaro cleared in bee sting doping case

FLORENCE, Italy -- The doping case involving a bee sting and defender Fabio Cannavaro has been dropped by the Italian Olympic Committee.

The committee's anti-doping court on Monday dropped the case after learning the positive test was a result of using cortisone to treat the bee sting.

The Italy captain was questioned last week. He said he did nothing wrong and was bothered by the public outrage it sparked.

"My conscious is clean," Cannavaro told the ANSA news agency after joining Italy to prepare for a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.

Cortisone can be administered if authorization for therapeutic needs is granted. It was unclear if his Juventus team received permission.