Rimini inquiry confirms that Pantani was not murdered

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Victory for Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) atop Alpe d'Huez at the '97 Tour

Victory for Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) atop Alpe d'Huez at th🦩e '97 Tour (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Marco Pantani in the mountains during stage 18 at the 2003 Giro d'Italia

Marco Pantani in the mountains during stage 18 at the 2003 Giro d'Italia☂ (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Marco Pantani on the attack during the 2001 Giro d'Italia

Marco Pantaꦚni on the attack during the 2001 Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Marco Pantani at the 1998 Giro d'Italia, which he would win overall.

Marco Pantani at the 🅺1998 Giro d'Italia, which he would win overall. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Marco Pantani riding the 2001 Vuelta

Marco Pantani riding the 2001 Vuelta (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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A young Marco Pantani at the 1994 Tour de France

A young Marco Pantani at the 1994 Tour de France (Image credit: Sirotti)

The Rimini-based inquiry into the death of Marco Pantani has dismissed the hypothesis that he was murdered and f🐎ound that he died as a result of an overdose of anti-depressants, with his use of cocaine a contributing factor.

that he has rejected the idea, propagated by Gazzetta, that Pantani died as a result of beinಞg forced to drink cocaine mixed with water.

Barry Ryan was Head of Fea🃏tures at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of , published by Gill Books.