ROME, April 28(Xinhuanet)-- RAI state TV aired a stunning video tape Thursday where Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was shown using performance-enhancing substance prior to a 1999 UEFA match.

Cannavaro was shown injected with Neoton, a creatine phosphate, that is not on any banned lists in Italy in the tape, filmed the night before the 1999 UEFA Cup final in a Moscow hotel room, shortly before Parma beat Marseille 3-0 for the title.

"Look what we're reduced to before the UEFA Cupfinal," Cannavaro was heard saying as a Parma teamofficial administered the medicine."I'm 25 years old and they're killing me."

Cannavaro sent a request to RAI a few hours before the tape was aired asking that it be pulledfrom broadcast, but RAI went ahead and had Cannavaro's lawyer Paolo Trofino in the studio to take part in an open discussion after it was shown.

Trofino emphasized that taking Neoton was not doping, and also made reference to the playful nature of the tape, in which Cannavaro often pokesfun at himself.

Cannavaro played seven seasons for Parma from 1995 to 2002 and now plays for Juventus. Enditem