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Two-Time Italian Olympian Alex Di Giorgio Tests Positive for Banned Substance

Two-time Italian Olympic swimmer Alex Di Giorgio has tested positive for a banned substance at an unannounced out-of-competition test.

Specifically, he tested positive for ostarine, also known as Enobosarm, which is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). Developed for treatment of medical conditions like muscle wasting and osteoperosis, can be used by athletes to increase physical stamina and fitness, producing effects similar to anabolic steroids.

The drug is intended to target the body’s androgen receptors to cause them to respond similarly to how they would to testosterone but without the side effects.

In 2017, in the US, a dietary supplement called Tri-Ton was tested by the USFDA and found to contain ostarine. In 2016, according to the Sports Integrity Initiative, there were only 28 AAFs across all sports for the substance, much lower than the more common stanozolol, for example, which had 294 findings.

While ostarine is not approved for human use or consumption anywhere in the world, it has increasingly turned up in supplements and has seen a growing number of positive tests. By 2018, the most recent report released by WADA, there were 45 positive tests. IN 2018, the Sports Integrity Initiative reported that at least 60 products on its “High Risk List” that contained ostarine.

Di Giorgio’s test was conducted on September 13 in Livigno, Italy during a training camp. He has been given a temporary suspension by the Italian Anti-Doping Tribunal and faces up to a 4 year ban for a first offense.

The 30-year old swimmer was a member of the Italian 800 free relay that won gold at the 2013 Mediterranean Games. At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, he swam a leg on Italy’s prelims 800 free relay, where he split 1:47.74 and the team placed 9th. At the 2012 London Olympic Games, he also swam on the prelims 800 free relay, splitting 1:47.93 as the relay finished 11th.

He currently trains at the Federal Center of Verona under coach Matteo Giunta in a group that includes the country’s most famous swimmer Federica Pellegrini, along with Stefania Pirozzi, Carlotta Zofkova, and others.

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Eisenheim
4 years ago

CORRECTION

Second to last word of the article: should be “and”

Eisenheim
4 years ago

Let ’em play ref!

Konner Scott
4 years ago

It’s not doping. It’s DiGiorgio.

hzmusicswim
4 years ago

Cue all the comments about china and Russian and how it’s surprising that they’re not the only ones who are doing. And who knows ! Maybe someone will mention sun yang!

Corn Pop
4 years ago

Minor . One ageing guy trying to hang on to his sport & hot bod .

Sure
Reply to  Corn Pop
4 years ago

Yeah steroids are totally fine.. let it slide he’s Italian and trying to look good.

Corn Pop
Reply to  Sure
4 years ago

Mr Puritan . It happens . It is not a big deal . Wake me up if Italy were to crack down on blood doping .

Sure
Reply to  Corn Pop
4 years ago

Mr Wakey, Its mr doctor professor Puritan to you. I’m sure that happens too? What’s your point, just let doping slide?

Corn Pop
Reply to  Sure
4 years ago

A 30 year old lbgtqi can’t have an enema infusion before a night out on the dance floor? Yep I’d let it slide .

goodole
4 years ago

This just reminded me that Conor Dwyer tested positive. Little did he know if he kept swimming he’d be able to swim at trials next summer. Conor is pretty good but a doped up Conor might’ve just broken a world record. #legalizeit

Huh
Reply to  goodole
4 years ago

Legalize what.. steroids? Who says he was not on steroids already? They can swim with Sun Yang and all other dopers for you to enjoy.

Goodole
Reply to  Huh
4 years ago

That’s a swim league I wanna see. Full body suits, all the steroids they want. ISDL (international swim doping league) I’m willing to help fund that

sven
Reply to  goodole
4 years ago

do we know he wasn’t doped up before? I’m more inclined to think his multiple 1:45s might have been the result of the testosterone, not the baseline before it.

Olympian
4 years ago

Bye bye 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼

Romeo
Reply to  Olympian
4 years ago

*Issa Ciao Ciao

GrameziPT
4 years ago

Isn’t he Pellegrini’s boyfriend?

Miguel
Reply to  GrameziPT
4 years ago

No he isn’t, and anyway he came out a while ago. So any hidden implication behind this statement does not fit at all.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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