Italian doctors probed after volleyball player's death

MILAN, Italy (AFP) –

Italy’s Vigor Bovolenta (left) attempts to block a Russian spike during the men’s volleyball bronze medal match in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 24, 2008. Two Italian doctors are facing manslaughter charges the volleyball player’s death, ANSA news agency reported.

Two sports doctors are facing manslaughter charges in Italy following the death of a volleyball player who was suffering from a coronary heart disease, ANSA news agency reported Sunday.

Vigor Bovolenta, a former national team player who helped Italy to the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, died on March 24, 2012 while playing for his team Volley Forli.

Results from a post-mortem revealed Boloventa had severe atherosclerosis, commonly known as coronary artery disease, and should not have been playing.

The doctors are facing manslaughter charges because they had previously passed the player fit to compete.

Boloventa, 37, left behind his wife, Federica Lisi, who gave birth to their fifth child shortly after his death.