WADA appeals Italians' bans for skipping drug tests

ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - Three Italian players could face stiffer punishments for missing drugs tests after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decided to take their cases to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Napoli midfielder Daniele Mannini and Davide Possanzini of Serie B side Brescia were banned for 15 days in March by an Italian Olympic Committee judge, while Reggina's Nicolo Cherubin, who is on loan at second division Avellino, was suspended for a month.

"I can confirm that the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed these cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)," WADA communications manager Frederic Donze told Reuters via email on Thursday.

Neither WADA nor the Lausanne-based CAS would say what punishments were being sought.

However, Italian media reported that the agency wanted Mannini and Possanzini's bans increased to two years and at least a one-year suspension for Cherubin.