Italian prosecutors have reopened an inquiry into the death of cyclist Marco Pantani after his family presented what it says is evidence he was murdered.

Marco Pantani, who won the 1998 Tour de France, was ruled to have died of a cocaine overdose after being found dead in his room on February 14, 2004.

His mother believes Marco Pantani, who was 34 when he died, was murdered.

Italian prosecutors have reopened an inquiry into the death of cyclist Marco Pantani (photo Il Calcio Magazine)

Tonina Pantani alleges he was beaten and forced to drink a lethal dose of cocaine dissolved in liquid.

“We have just received documents sent by those close to [Marco Pantani] and we have opened an investigation,” said Paolo Giovagnoli, the public prosecutor in Rimini, where Marco Pantani’s body was found.

“We will read them and if we decide to proceed with a new investigation, we will appoint an examining magistrate to do so.”

In the year of his victory in the Tour de France, Marco Pantani also won the Giro d’Italia.

Tonina Pantani told La Repubblica newspaper: “I will never stop until I see the truth written about Marco…”

The Pantani family says the marks found on Marco Pantani’s body show he had been beaten, and the high amount of cocaine found in his system suggested he had swallowed the drug, which it claims is something he would not have done willingly.