Four athletes have been provisionally suspended after testing positive for THC (cannabis), reports Italy’s national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia). Volleyball star Jiří Kovář was provisionally suspended after testing positive for a metabolite of THC at a competition hosted in Perugia on 6 May, reports NADO Italia. American basketball player Darius Earvin Johnson-Odom, who plays for Vanoli Cremona in Italy’s Serie A, has also been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the same substance in a 6 May post game test, reports NADO Italia.

Two Serie C rugby players have also been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the same substance. Salvatore Letizia was provisionally suspended after testing positive after Nissa Rugby’s Serie C game against Vittoria Rugby on 8 April, reports NADO Italia. Federico Daddi was provisionally suspended after testing positive after the Arvalia Villa Pamphili vs. Bingo Family Amatori Catania game on 22 April 2018, reported NADO Italia.

NADO Italia has also issued four year bans to four athletes, and has provisionally suspended two others after positive tests. Cyclist Mina Rosario was sanctioned with a four year ban expiring on 5 April 2022, reports NADO Italia. Her sanction is also listed on the Italian cycling federation’s (FCI) internet site. 

Distance runner Federica Poletti has also been sanctioned with a four year ban, after testing positive for clostebol at a race on 25 March. NADO Italia said her ban would expire on 16 April 2022. Amateur athletes Veronica Volpato and Igor Scafidi were also sanctioned with four year bans.

Swimmer Marco Bolzan was provisionally suspended after testing positive for tuaminoheptane, reports NADO Italia. A minor taekwondo athlete has also been provisionally suspended after testing positive.