Alex Schwazer is facing a preliminary suspension. © ANSA / ANSA / RED

Positive doping test: Schwazer provisionally suspended

Alex Schwazer from South Tyrol has tested positive for the blood doping agent EPO as an international starter at the German road championships.

June 22, 2026

From: dpa/nie

As the National Anti-Doping Agency Germany (NADA) announced, proceedings have been initiated regarding a possible violation of anti-doping regulations. Furthermore, NADA has provisionally suspended the 41-year-old from Kalch following his positive test on April 26 in Kelsterbach, Hesse, and has filed a complaint with the responsible public prosecutor's office based on the anti-doping law.

Schwazer, who won Olympic gold in the 50-kilometer race in Beijing in 2008, most recently competed in the German Marathon Championships, finishing in 3:01:55 hours. due to his commanding victory in the spotlightThe South Tyrolean, who was more than 25 minutes faster than the runner-up, not only outclassed his competition, but also broke the Italian record. In the new marathon discipline, Schwazer was two minutes faster than the previous record holder, Andrea Agrusti.

Schwazer has already been suspended twice for doping.

The South Tyrolean had already tested positive for EPO before the 2012 London Olympics and later admitted his guilt. He was subsequently banned for four years and received an eight-month suspended prison sentence. His then-girlfriend, former world figure skating champion Carolina Kostner, allegedly helped him evade tests and was banned for 16 months for this.

Alex Schwazer has a history of doping. © ANSA / Schwazer Press Office

On January 1, 2016, he tested positive again on behalf of World Athletics. Anabolic steroids were found in his urine sample. Schwazer, who had always denied these doping allegations, was banned for eight years.

He wanted the Independent Integrity Unit (AIU) to lift his ban. The AIU rejected his request. Schwazer appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – and lost.