The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that it had declared Italian athlete Alex Schwazer (race walking) ineligible to compete at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London for an anti-doping rule violation.
Schwazer, 27, provided a urine sample on 30 July in Calice, Italy, that tested positive for the prohibited substance recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO). He was subsequently suspended by the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI).
The athlete was scheduled to compete in London on 11 August in the Men’s 50km Race Walk.
The IOC Executive Board decided:
I. The IOC has taken note of the decision of CONI to suspend the athlete Alex Schwazer.
II. The athlete Alex Schwazer, Italy, Athletics:
(i) is declared ineligible to participate in the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012;
(ii) shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card immediately cancelled and withdrawn.
III. The Athlete’s file shall be transmitted to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is requested to consider any further action within its own competence.
IV. The NOC of Italy and LOCOG shall ensure full implementation of the Executive Board decision.
V. This decision shall enter into force immediately.
Read the full decision here.
Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2012 London Olympic Games, testing takes place under the IOC's auspices from 16 July (date of the opening of the Olympic Village) to 12 August 2012. Within that period, the IOC systematically performs tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC systematically carries out tests on the top five finishers plus two at random. The IOC also performs out-of-competition unannounced tests. Over the course of the London Games, the IOC is expected to carry out some 5,000 tests - 3,800 urine and 1,200 blood. For more information, please consult the IOC factsheet on anti-doping.
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