Italians di Beppe Severgnini 
Il Twitter del direttore 
Alex Schwazer has tested positive in a drug test, according to a report published by Gazzetta dello Sport on its website on Tuesday night. The South Tyrolean race walker resulted positive for testosterone, an anabolic steroid, after a surprise doping test carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) at his home in Sterzing during the Christmas holidays, where he had gone to spend a few days with his family (he usually lives and trains in Rome). At the time, the athlete from Alto Adige was still under a ban for doping, and the test was one of the first carried out before his return to competition, in a period when Schwazer was being monitored “privately” by his doctors, Prof. Ronci and Prof. d’Ottavio.
The test
It has emerged that a somewhat unusual testing procedure was used, although the details are still unclear. Initial test results in January were reportedly negative, only to become positive after the same sample was retested in late April. On both occasions, the sample was analysed at the WADA laboratory in Cologne, one of the most advanced in the world. What needs to be clarified is why the sample was analysed twice: testosterone testing is particularly complex, and involves the use of two different methods. If there are any doubts about the validity of the results, further tests are carried out immediately.
2012 disqualification
Schwazer was informed of the news in Vitipeno, where he recently began the last phase of his Olympic training in the company of Sandro Donati, the Roman coach who has been working with him since his disqualification for doping. He has already announced that they will contest the results. In late May, Alex finished a ban lasting almost four years, as a result of testing positive for EPO prior to the London 2012 Olympics. After his World Cup victory in the 50 km in Rome and second place in the 20 km race in La Coruna, he was set to compete in both races in Rio. A press conference has been announced by the athlete and his staff for Wednesday evening at 6.00 pm in Bolzano.
Schwazer: “False and monstrous allegations”
The athlete’s reply came through his lawyer Gerhard Brandstätter, who spoke of “false and monstrous allegations”. “What Alex has always feared has now happened, but we will defend ourselves and take legal action.” Meanwhile, the news has caused dismay in the world of Italian sport. Alfio Giomi, president of Italian athletics association FIDAL, said that: “At the moment I’m shocked; we’re trying to understand.”
Federica Pellegrini: “If it is true, it will be a huge disappointment”
“I don’t know whether it’s true: we’ll see in the next few days, but I’m really saddened that he may have tested positive for something he didn’t do deliberately,” commented swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, talking at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, where Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella presented a delegation from Italy’s Olympic squad with the flag to take to Rio. The group included Filippo Magnini, who said that “If it’s true, it’s very serious; cheating is not the way to win.” Questioned on the matter, the president of Italy’s Olympic committee, Giovanni Malago, commented that: “It’s too early to judge because no one knows exactly how things stand, but clearly with athletes of this standing, a relapse would be shattering news.”
English translation by Simon Tanner
www.simontanner.com
