1.   Pantani, of Mercatone Uno, had started in the Giro with a possible doping suspension hanging over his head.

2.   Pantani, the captain of the Mercatone Uno team, is competing in this Giro with a possible doping suspension hanging over his head.

3.   A member of the United States bobsledding team got the first doping suspension of the Nagano Winter Olympics, but his team said Saturday he would appeal.

4.   Davids, just back from a four-month doping suspension, and Balleri were suspended with the help of television footage.

5.   Increasingly, athletes have turned to litigation to challenge positive test results and doping suspensions.

6.   Marco Pantani, competing in the Giro with a possible doping suspension hanging over his head, was an unpredictable starter.

7.   Pantani, of Meractone Uno, had started in the Giro with a possible doping suspension hanging over his head.

8.   One top star, Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids, will miss most of the season while serving a doping suspension.

9.   Striker Raul Gonzalez and defender Fernando Hierro are injured, while midfielder Josep Guardiola is serving a doping suspension.

10.   The Australian cyclist, who took over as Mapei captain following the doping suspension of Stefano Garzelli last week, said he was surprised with his good showing.