ROME. Aug 7: Italy's Olympic team returned home over joyed on Tuesday after winn ng a total of : 5 medals but lop high Jumper Antonella B« vi lacqua said a doping scandal had spoiled the Atlatna Games for her. reports Reuter

Bevilacqua arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport with the last group of athletes say Ing she w s convinced she could have done better if s.he had not been upset by the doping row that had threat ened to keep her out of the Games.

She came fourth in the high jump after the International Amateur A hletic Federal on (IAAF) decided not to exclude her despite two positive tests for a banned stimulant. Her case is due to go to an arbitra tion hearing and her Atlanta result may ne cancelled if the case goes against her

"1 am convinced that T ' had not bet n upset before • he competitioi by someone re minding me about the positive dope test. 1 would have been able to jump 2.01 metres and maybe even 2 03, Bevilacqua told reporters.

Bevilacqua jumped 1 99 metres in Mlaiita Bulgarian Stefka Kosladlnova took gold with 2 05 metres, Niki Bakoglannl of Greece won ill ver with 2.03 and the bronze medal went to Inha Babakova of Ukraine with 2 01.

One of the top six lumpers in the world this year. Bevilacqua was caught twice with the banned stimulant ephedrine in her body in May An Italian panel decided she had taken the drug by mistake and did not Impose the usual three month ban