Laurent Rebours / AP file

Marco Pantani is shown on Aug. 2, 1998 at the Tour de France, which he won.

updated 5:36 p.m. ET March 20, 2004

ROME - Former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani’s death was caused by cocaine poisoning that appears to have been accidental, according to a coroner’s report.

The ANSA news agency reported that Giuseppe Fortuni determined Pantani died of “acute cocaine poisoning.” The initial autopsy showed he died from severe swelling in his brain and heart, but Fortuni ordered more tests to find out why there was swelling.

The AGI and APcom news agencies had similar reports. Calls from The Associated Press to the prosecutors’ office and Pantani’s manager were not immediately returned.

Pantani was found dead in his hotel room Feb. 14. About 10 bottles of tranquilizers were found in the room, some of them empty, others just open, police said.

Pantani’s 1998 Tour de France victory was the last by a rider other than Lance Armstrong.