AC Milan striker Cassano allowed to resume playing

MILAN (AP) - AC Milan and Italy striker Antonio Cassano has been given the go-ahead to start playing again following minor heart surgery.

A 10-man commission gathered by the Italian Sports Medicine Federation (FMSI) approved Cassano's return Monday and Milan's own medical institute added its assent after about an hour of further tests Tuesday.

Cassano was hospitalized after falling ill with stroke-like symptoms on the team plane following Milan's 3-2 victory at Roma on Oct. 29, then had surgery six days later to repair a small cardiac malformation.

He resumed training on his own in January and with his teammates on Thursday, though time is running out for him to make Italy's European Championship squad.