Credit: GETTY
OLYMPIAN Alex Schwazer is facing a lifetime ban after failing a THIRD career drugs.
The 41-year-old race-walker’s career hangs in the balance after tests he’d taken around the German Road Race Walking Championships discovered traces of EPO in his system.
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Alex Schwazer’s race walking career could be over after he failed a third career drug test Credit: GETTY
The Italian recently returned samples which had traces of EPO in it Credit: GETTY
The B samples from Schwazer’s blood and urine tests are currently being analysed.
And if they are found to contain EPO, which increases red blood cell count, he will receive a permanent ban from competition.
Schwazer has vehemently denied intentionally taking the injectable banned substance.
But he won’t protest any sanction bestowed on him.
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He said: “I am innocent, but I am not going to defend myself again. I don’t have the energy anymore.
“I didn’t take anything but I don’t have faith in the system anymore.”
Schwazer tested positive for EPO at the London 2012 Games and admitted knowingly taking the drug.
The Italian, who won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, was handed a 45-month ban for his intentional violation of anti-doping rules.
Alex Schwazer faces a potential lifetime ban if his B samples also have traces of EPO in it Credit: AFP
He missed out on the 2016 Olympics in Rio after he was found to have been micro-dosing testosterone.
Schwazer was handed an EIGHT- YEAR ban for his second doping offence.
An Italian court acquitted him of any wrongdoing in 2021, insisting there was evidence suggesting his samples had been altered.
The suspension, however, was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Schwazer seemingly believes there’s a witch hunt against him, saying: “I don’t know why they have it in for me.
“And I’m no longer interested in finding out. If I were to investigate, I would end up destroying myself.
“I’m innocent and I no longer want to waste energy on battles that can wear me out psychologically.
“They can do what they want, I don’t care anymore.”
