20-year-old Italian swimmer Christian Bacico has been handed a provisional suspension by the National Anti-Doping Court (NADO) of Italy.
NADO accepted a request proposed by the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office after Bacico tested positive for clostebol metabolite.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, when an athlete returns an Adverse Analytical Finding for a non-specified substance, like clostebol, a provisional suspension is automatically applied.
It’s unclear when exactly the positive test occurred, but Bacico competed for Italy as recently as this month, suggesting the test was recent. The suspension remains in effect while proceedings unfold.
Clostebol is a synthetic anabolic steroid, a chlorinated derivative of testosterone, historically used in the medical field as a healing agent for skin lesions. The substance has been banned for over 30 years, and is listed under Section S1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
From a physiological standpoint, clostebol stimulates protein synthesis, which promotes increased muscle mass and strength and contributes to faster recovery. It can also affect the ability to sustain prolonged efforts, acting indirectly on muscle oxygenation through red blood cell production.
Clostebol use can substantially increase the risk of heart and cholesterol problems, and cause lasting hormone suppression.
The substance most recently gained media attention in 2024 during the case involving Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner. “No Fault or Negligence” was the official ruling in that case after he proved the substance had entered his system as a result of contamination from a support team member.
At the World Championships in Singapore this past July, Bacico had a big breakthrough in the backstroke events. Coming in with a 100 back best of 53.65 from 2022, he dropped nearly a full second with a 52.72 in prelims. He matched that time in the semifinals to finish 10th, missing the final by just 15 hundredths.
In the 200 back, Bacico swam 1:56.79 in the heats, lowering his previous best of 1:57.70 from April. He then clocked 1:56.02 for his second 10th-place finish of the meet. He went on to touch 15th in the 50 back with a time of 24.90, just off his 24.83 personal best from earlier in the season.
His time in the 200 back set a new Italian Youth Record, and his times in both the 100 and 200 rank him second in Italian history. Thomas Ceccon remains the National Record holder in both events, courtesy of his current World Record of 51.60 in the 100 and his personal best of 1:55.71 in the 200.
Bacico ended the meet with a lifetime-best 52.68 lead-off on Italy’s sixth-place 400 mixed medley relay.
He most recently lined up at the European Short Course Championships last week, where he swam season-bests in all three backstroke events. He took 12th in the 100 (50.85) and 200 back (1;52.81), and touched 31st in the 50 (24.13).
Having a product like Trofodermin on the market gives a ready made excuse for any athlete that tests positive. Anything this product treats can be treated with a product that doesn’t contain an anabolic steroid.
The same substances with Sinner?
Never mind. I see it’s specified in the article.
Of course it’s Italian. Remember 2000?
Vaguely. What specifically about 2000 are we referring to?
After the Sydney Olympics, an Italian newspaper, Corriere della Serra, reported that several Italian athletes had tested positive for high levels of human growth hormone (HGH) in pre-Olympic tests but were still allowed to compete.
Gotcha. I didn’t know about that case.
I don’t think it should be too hard for him to get a reduced ban here. Just needs to “prove” that he was “contaminated” when he used the spray/cream on a pet, or was touched by a family member who was prescribed it.
I find it really crazy that Italy sells a OTC cream/spray with this banned steroid, and that their athletes essentially have ready-made contamination stories available if they fail a test. This article does a really good job of explaining it more: https://honestsport.substack.com/p/italys-clostebol-doping-crisis-across
Well Well Well such an improved swimmer
Test them ALL
Who was it who said “god damn cheating Italians?”
Brett Hawke
Explain
Mama Mia!!!