ROME (AP)  The Italian Olympic Committee confirmed Wednesday that Olympic cycling silver medalist Davide Rebellin tested positive for doping at the Beijing Games. CONI said in a statement that it has suspended the athlete, and anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri has opened an investigation following the retesting of samples taken at the Olympics. Torri also called Rebellin to a hearing on Monday. Rebellin's team, Diquigiovanni-Androni, also said it has temporarily suspended the rider, pending analysis of the "B" sample. It also noted that Rebellin rode for the Gerolsteiner team last season In an interview with La Stampa daily, Rebellin rejected the doping accusations, saying the result was "certainly a mistake." "I don't see why I should take a path that would ruin me or my image," Rebellin told Italy's state TV on Wednesday. "I don't know if I'll still be able to race, but I will always ride because cycling is my life." The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday that a total of seven positive tests involving six athletes came back positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO. The IOC has not named the athletes or the sports involved. The 37-year-old Rebellin won silver in the Olympic road race in Beijing. Last week, he won the Walloon Arrow cycling classic in Belgium for the third time. A specialist at long single-day races, Rebellin won the Amstel Gold Race, Walloon Arrow and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2004. The German cycling federation said Stefan Schumacher also tested positive, and the Bahrain Olympic Committee said 1,500-meter gold medalist Rashid Ramzi was another. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more