Some 40 suspected drug dealers arrested in Italian doping raids

In what is being considered the largest doping raid in Europe, hundreds of police throughout Italy searched 200 locations, mostly sports studios.

Police confiscated large quantities of banned doping substances - including human growth hormones, the endurance-enhancing drug EPO and anabolic steroids - believed intended for sale to amateur athletes.

Arrest warrants were outstanding for at least dozen of those detained, said the report, which added that the raids were aimed at fighting doping of amateur athletes, but that no athletes were being searched.

The action was the first major raid since hard-hitting anti-doping laws were passed in Italy a few weeks ago. The new law sends convicted doping dealers to jail for up to six years and doped athletes up to three years.

The raids were called by Bologna-based prosecutor Giovanni Spinosa, who is investigating sports doctor Francesco Conconi on suspicion of systematic doping of top athletes.

Spinosa believes Italian drug dealers have customers in Germany, Russia, Argentina, the United States, Spain, Greece and Canada.

(kil/dpa)