Lippi calm over captain Cannavaro
Italy coach Marcelo Lippi expects captain Fabio Cannavaro to join up with his squad on Sunday, despite the defender failing a drugs test.
Juventus blame Cannavaro's failure on taking a medicine containing the banned substance cortisone.
He is believed to have been interviewed on Friday by Italian Olympic Committee anti-doping prosecutor Etorre Torri.
"I have not spoken to Cannavaro," said Lippi. "But there was no need. Will he be here with us on Sunday? Of course."
The 36-year-old, Italy's most capped player and captain during their 2006 World Cup triumph, is currently on international duty as his side aim to seal qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He is expected to return to lead the side against Cyprus next Wednesday.
He will be missing from Saturday's key World Cup qualifier match against the Republic of Ireland due to a prior suspension.
Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci defended Cannavaro in the doping controversy.
According to Juventus, Cannavaro received emergency cortisone treatment for an insect bite on 28 August.
He had requested an exemption from the drugs test after being treated for the bite but missing paperwork meant he did not get it and he failed a drugs test after a Serie A match two days later.
"When he came to the national team, after the Roma game, he told us what had happened and he told us that without the medicine that contained cortisone he would have had a reaction, an anaphylactic shock," said Castellacci.
"We asked Juventus for all the necessary documents regarding the medicine taken by Cannavaro and all the communication is in our possession.
"There are no indications that suggest that Cannavaro will not arrive to Coverciano on Sunday."
Cannavaro's team-mate Giorgio Chiellini added: "It would be awful to make this out as a doping case when it isn't.
"I was there when Fabio was stung by the wasp. His arm swelled up straight away. He is calm and so are we."
