FINA has announced a drug-test suspension against Italian swimmer Enrico Catalano for a positive test for THC metabolites (which is indicative of marijuana usage).
Catalano is a 28-year old swimmer for Team Lombardia in Italy who specializes in the sprint backstroke events. He was a member of the 2009 Italian World Championship team where he placed 18th in the 50 and also swam the prelims backstroke leg for the Italian medley in 54.76. He didn’t have a great 2011 season, and is a longshot to make the Olympic Team in 2012.
Catalano’s suspension is 2-months, which is pretty on-par for a first offense for Cannabinoid tests. The full FINA press release is below.
On July 10, 2011, a swimmer Enrico Catalano (ITA) was tested positive to the substance THC metabolites (Class S.8 Cannabinoids) following a doping control test conducted with the occasion of the Campionati Regionali Di Categoria Estivi.
The Federal Appeal Commission of the Italian Swimming Federation imposed a sanction of 2 months’ ineligibility on the athlete which began on August 5, 2011, the date of the provisional suspension.
Is it just me or does he look kind of like Thorpe in that picture?