ITALY captain Fabio Cannavaro is being investigated by doping officials for a failing a drugs test after receiving emergency treatment on an insect bite, his club Juventus said yesterday.

“Juventus’s medical department specifies that it acted in respect of health procedures and ethical rules in an emergency intervention in August following the deterioration of the clinical condition after an insect bite,” read a statement on the club website, juventus.com.

“On this occasion a pharmacological therapy was administered that was indispensable to prevent complications, including lethal ones.”

The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) said Cannavaro had requested an exemption after being treated for the bite, but did not receive it before he was tested.

Coni added that after the exemption request arrived it had written to the former Ballon d’Or winner asking for a doctor’s certificate.

Cannavaro, Italy’s most capped player and the cornerstone of their 2006 World Cup-winning side, has been summoned to a hearing with Coni’s anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri.

Italian media reported this would take place today and said Cannavaro was given a cortisone-based anti-allergic medication to treat a wasp sting.

The defender had been expected to join the Italy squad this weekend for next Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Parma. He is suspended the match against Ireland at Croke Park.

Meanwhile, Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss both games because of a knee injury.