5 February 2019

Eleven Italians subject to doping proceedings in January

Eleven Italian athletes have been subject to anti-doping proceedings in January, according to statements published by Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia). Seven athletes were sanctioned with bans ranging from four months to four years, and four athletes were provisionally suspended, after reporting an adverse analytical finding (AAF). The eleven only includes athletes who are affiliated to a national or international sporting federation, and not amateur athletes, a number of which were also sanctioned in January.

The bans involved three athletes competing in similar disciplines who were sanctioned with varying bans after reporting AAFs. Hussein Zmnako Wali Hussein tested positive for clostebol at the Italian Trail Championship on 3 October, where he finished eighth in the 25km trail. Hussein claimed to have used trofodermin ointment following an injury at the shipyard where he worked as a bricklayer. He was sanctioned with a four year ban. 

Trofodermin is a dermatological cream that contains corticosteroids. In August 2017, Norwegian cross country skier Therese Johaug missed the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal from the International Ski Federation (FIS) to extend her ban to 18 months, despite agreeing that her use was not intended to enhance performance.

Emilio Berti tested positive for clenbuterol at the Olympic Triathlon on 15 September. It is understood that Berti successfully argued that his AAF was the result of prescribed medication for bronchitis, which he did not declare before competing. He was sanctioned with a one year ban. Meanwhile Andrea de Stales was sanctioned with a four month ban after testing positive for betamethasone at the IronDelta Olympic 2018 on 16 September. 

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