Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin is refusing to return the silver medal he won in last year's Olympic road race in Beijing, stripped from him for doping earlier this week. On Tuesday the International Olympic Committee said Rebellin had to give the medal back because he was eventually found to have used CERA, the latest generation of the blood booster EPO. But on Wednesday the Italian veteran, who came second in Beijing to Samuel Sanchez of Spain, said he was hanging on to the medal, "at least for the moment".

On Thursday the Italian Olympic Committee said it was going to sue the recalcitrant cyclist for tarnishing Italy's image. It ordered Rebellin to return the medal along with the 75,000 euros in prize money CONI gave him. It is still unclear whether Rebellin, who is insisting he can clear his name, will give in to the demands. Rebellin, 37, has been suspended since the April 29 news that CERA had been found in a re-tested blood sample. He is adamant that it was a false positive and has also vowed to defy any ban.