Donati presents book: “Athletes are victims of the corrupt system”

His fight against fraud in sport began in 1987, when Sandro Donati uncovered fraud at the World Championships in Rome surrounding Giovanni Evangelisti's incorrectly measured long jump. However, this also ended his time as national coach. Since then, the now 65-year-old has become Italy's number one doping hunter and Italy's only member of the world anti-doping agency Wada. At the invitation of the South Tyrolean Athletics Association, Donati presented his book yesterday in the packed ballroom of the municipality of Bozen. "Lo sport del doping" has become a bestseller in Italy. In addition to numerous trainers and officials such as the former national ski coach Sepp Messner, the guests also included top athletes such as the track and field athletes Silvia Weissteiner and Christian Obrist and the skier Riccardo Tonetti.

Black victim of a system

With this invitation, the South Tyrolean regional association wanted to make its position in the fight against doping clear, said President Bruno Cappello in the introduction. Of course, the Alex Schwazer doping case was also an issue. Cappello warned against condemning Schwazer, especially as a human being. Schwazer is a victim of a system in which only the medals count. Donati also followed this line in his remarks. “I know many cases like Schwazer’s. An athlete's talent arouses interest from coaches, associations, managers or sponsors. In the event of a doping offense, the system portrays the athletes as the sole culprits.”

Donati criticized the inadequate controls. In the Schwazer case, too, many people knew about the anomalies in his biological passport, but the system relies on the athletes' results. "Nobody amputates themselves, not even in democratic countries." Only the public prosecutor's offices would uncover the doping cases. That was also the case with Schwazer. Donati justified the maximum sentence of four years for Schwazer demanded by the sports justice system by saying that the system had to prove that to be rigorous. “It would be more sensible to research the people behind it,” says Donati.

“In endurance and strength sports it is impossible to reach the top of the world without doping”

Yesterday evening, when making his accusations about doping cases in cycling, athletics and cross-country skiing, Donati also, as expected, called "horse and rider". For example, Donati collectively accused the national cross-country skiing team of the 90s of EPO doping. But that's not all : "If doped athletes from back then are now working in a responsible position as trainers, it is clear that they are passing doping on to the athletes." Italy's number one doping hunter caused some embarrassed faces among those present with his statements.

For Donati, it is impossible to reach the top of the world in sports with a high strength or endurance component without doping. "People like Schwazer leave, but the dishonest coaches and officials stay." He is not afraid of being sued. "I have never been sued. If there are complaints against me, we will complete the picture."

In order to improve the situation, Donati calls for a revolution from below, because this cannot be expected from the corrupt top. The organization of sport must be radically changed. Donati urged honest people in sports not to give up. "These people have to regain the upper hand in sport." At the end of his visit to South Tyrol, Donati is speaking today to students at the Torricelli High School in Bolzano.

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Donati presents book: “Athletes are victims of the corrupt system”

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