ROME - ITALY'S Filippo Volandri was on Friday handed a three-month doping ban for having too high a level of salbutamol in a treatment he was taking for asthma, the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) announced.

According to the FIT, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tribunal 'accepted that Volandri had not taken salbutamol with intent to enhance his sporting performance; rather, he had taken salbutamol to treat an asthma attack'.

'The ITF, however, said that the concentration (of the product) for strictly therapeutic use was too high.' The dope test was carried out on March 13 last year at the Indian Wells Masters.

Volandri, who reached a career-high ranking of 27 in 2007 but is now at 109 on the rankings, will serve his ban from January 15 until April 15.

The 27-year-old had been due to face Mario Ancic in the Australian Open first round next week.

Under the terms of the ITF decision, Volandri loses all his points gathered since Indian Wells up to August 18 last year and will also have to refund prize money from that period.

He has three weeks in which to lodge an appeal. -- AFP