Skiing: Tomba cleared of tax fraud

Retired Olympic ski champion Alberto Tomba was yesterday acquitted of tax fraud.

His father was convicted and sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Tomba - one of Italy's most successful and popular skiers - his father, his former manager and several other people were accused of evading taxes on 23 billion lire ($24.62 million) in unreported earnings in the 1990s.

Prosecutors in Bologna alleged the money from rich commercial contracts was paid to the skier through bank accounts in tax havens.

The three-time Olympic champion has said he never handled his own money.