Filippo Magnini is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Italian national anti-doping prosecutor’s (PNA) decision to reject his appeal against a four year ban. In May, the PNA rejected Magnini’s appeal against a four year ban, issued in November 2018 to the Italian swimmer and his relay team mate, Michele Santucci. However, it accepted Santucci’s appeal and annulled his ban.

Both were sanctioned due to their association with Guido Porcellini, who was sanctioned with a 30 year ban on 2 July for supplying prohibited substances to athlete. NADO Italia has since deleted record of Porcellini’s sanction from its internet site, after the Pesaro nutritionist and his associate, Antonio Maria de Grandis, were sentenced to 18 months and 17 months imprisonment, respectively. 

It is understood that Magnini argues that although Porcellini’s paperwork indicated that he intended to send prohibited substances to the swimmer, NADO Italia agreed that he may never have received or used them. He alleges that he only ever used supplements that didn’t contain prohibited substances. The CAS hearing list indicates that his case will be heard on 4 November.