Rebecca Passler is a spectator at the 2026 Olympics. © ANSA / PIERRE TEYSSOT

Decision made: Passler will not be competing in the Olympics.

It's official since Tuesday midday: Rebecca Passler will not compete in any races at the Olympics in her hometown of Antholz. The relay will take place without her – unless there's an unexpected change of plans.

February 17, 2026

From Antholz

Italy's Winter Sports Federation has announced in a brief press release the four female athletes who will compete on Wednesday (starting at 2:45 pm). SportNews(Ticker) will compete in the women's relay. Rebecca Passler's name does not appear.

The Italian team for the team event consists of starting skier Hannah Auchentaller, Dorothea Wierer (competing in her penultimate career race), Michela Carrara, and pursuit Olympic champion Lisa Vittozzi. This same quartet has already finished second twice in this World Cup season. Therefore, the Italians are considered medal contenders, behind the clear favorites from France.

Dorothea Wierer, Michela Carrara, Lisa Vittozzi and Hannah Auchentaller (from left) made it onto the podium twice this season.

The decision to stick with the tried-and-tested quartet had been anticipated in recent days. Rebecca Passler, nominally the third-best Italian, had been a shoo-in for the relay before the Games began, but her doping suspension threw those plans into disarray. Firstly, she only resumed training on Monday, and secondly, the media frenzy surrounding her remains intense. Furthermore, it's still unclear whether her acquittal will be appealed and whether the relay result could be challenged in the event of another conviction.

Passler as a reserve

The 24-year-old from Antholz isn't completely sidelined during this second week of the Olympics. Passler is part of the official squad as a reserve athlete and would compete if one of her four teammates were to drop out at short notice. She hasn't qualified for the final mass start this weekend.

Rebecca Passler also trained at the Olympic Arena on Tuesday. © ANSA / MARTIN METELKO

It is certainly not the role Passler had hoped for in the run-up to the Games, but at the same time a small conciliatory end to the tiresome doping saga.



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