Following an investigation by police in Trento in Northern Italy, the country’s National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) has asked for a two-year ban on 26 athletes it accuses of avoiding doping controls, or failing to be available for them. At the same time it dropped charges against 39 other athletes also under investigation.
NADOs are government-funded entities charged with testing national athletes both in-competition and out-of-competition, as well as foreign athletes competing within the country’s borders. In order to be complaint with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, NADOs must agree to accept international anti-doping rules, implement them, and enforce them.
According to Reuters and other news agencies, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) issued a statement on Wednesday urging the two-year ban for 26 track and field athletes, 5 of whom have already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and 10 of whom have retired from competition. Among those named in the statement are:
- Fabrizio Donato (triple jump) – 2012 European champion; 2012 Olympic bronze medalist
- Andrew Howe (long jump) – 2006 European champion; 2007 world silver medalist
- Daniele Meucci (marathon) – 2014 European champion
- Giuseppe Gibilisco (pole vault) – 2003 world champion; 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
- Anna Incerti (marathon) – 2010 European champion
Last month the IAAF, track and field’s international governing body, voted to suspend Russia from the sport after a WADA Independent Commission published a report detailing widespread doping and corruption within the Russian Athletics (track and field) Federation.
I think there is a substantial difference with Russia. These alleged cheaters were found out following an internal investigation. It’s not like some international body exposed our athletes and we are in denial.