• Cyclist Piero Rinaldini, who won August’s Sticciano to Sticciano race organised by the UISP Italian amateur sport organisation, has returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF – or ‘positive test’) for testosterone. Rinaldini returned his AAF at the Trofeo Paesetto on 18 August, Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia) announced. “This great satisfaction pays off for all the training I did in this period with Luca Staccioli”, Rinaldini told UISP on winning the Sticciano to Sticciano. Luca Staccioli was sanctioned with a three year ban for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) involving testosterone earlier this month.

• Cyclist Manuela Rinaldi has been provisionally suspended after returning an adverse analytical finding (AAF – or ‘positive test’) for canrenone at the Sinalunga Bike 2021 on 12 September, Italy’s anti-doping agency (NADO Italia) announced. Canrenone is a metabolite of spironolactone, a drug used to treat fluid built up after operations. NADO Italia said that Rinaldi declared Aldactone – which contains spironolactone – on his doping control form (DCF), and requested a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) after his test.

• A survey conducted by Anti-Doping Switzerland has revealed that the majority of athletes are satisfied with the frequency of anti-doping tests; and that they have sufficient information on anti-doping, the agency announced. In the Study, to which 627 responded (33% of those asked), athletes suggested that areas which could be improved where methods for reporting ‘whereabouts’; the social media presence of Anti-Doping Switzerland; and the quality of doping controls by overseas organisations.

• Archer Francesco Colacino has been sanctioned with an eight month ban, Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia) announced. Colacino returned an AAF for bisoprolol, a medication used to treat high blood pressure, at the 3D Regional Championships 2021 on 25 July. His ban will run from 25 July until 24 March next year, and his result in the 3D Regional Championship 2021 will be cancelled.

• A recreational athlete has been sanctioned with a warning and a fine by Anti-Doping Switzerland, after customs officials intercepted a package containing Clomisign-50 tablets which contain clomiphene, a prohibited substance. The athlete was able to show that they had ordered the tablets for medical reasons and not in connection with sport.

• Andrea Roca has been sanctioned with an 18 year ban by Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia), expiring on 4 October 2039. Roca was amongst 12 people arrested in Sicily during 2019, who were suspected of being part of an international ring trafficking anabolic steroids.

• The Swedish Government has proposed a range of new measures designed to combat match-fixing in the country. The measures, outlined in full at a 6 October press conference, require licensees to report suspicious activity to the gambling inspectorate (Spelinspektionen), which will also be given the right to request and collect information from operators.