Pescante began his career as a university sports manager and was appointed secretary general of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in 1973.

He teaches sports law at LUISS University in Rome and has authored numerous publications.

[4] In January 2014, Pescante publicly opposed the decision of United States president Barack Obama to include four openly homosexual athletes in their Olympic delegation.

He served as an undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities under prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from 2001 to 2006.

At present, he is the president of the 14th Commission of the Chamber of Deputies (in charge of European Union affairs).