Italian football was yesterday given a clean bill of health by the country's Olympic Committee anti-doping inquiry. But curbs were called on the use of creatine, an over-the-counter muscle-building agent.

The inquiry summoned 33 witnesses, mostly Serie A players and including Chelsea's Gianluca Vialli, but concluded that the use of creatine is an ongoing problem and suggested its use be banned or restricted.

Several players told Ugo Longo, whose 50-page report was handed to the Italian Olympic Committee's president Mario Pescante yesterday, that creatine, an amino acid powder, is administered by their club doctors.

"Among the illustrious pharmacologists that I contacted no one said this substance is good for you," Longo said. "Everyone knows that certain dosages can improve athletes' performances while putting their health at risk."

The investigation was sparked when Roma's coach Zdenek Zeman expressed his "amazement" at the quick muscular development of some players, Vialli included.

"Everyone I spoke to asked that we delve into the real problem: the use of substances that are not prohibited," Longo added. "Our investigation has not found evidence of `doping' in soccer."