Italian sprinting ace Andrea Vergani may yet swim at the 2019 World Championships next month, despite having tested positive for banned substance. As we reported back in April, the 21-year-old freestyle specialist had tested positive for cannabis, immediately receiving a temporary suspension by Italy’s Anti-Doping Federation, NADO Italia.
The NADO Italia Court has now rendered a decision on Vergani’s case, implementing a 3-month suspension effective April 19th. That means the punishment ends on July 18th, rendering the athlete possibly available to compete in Gwangju at the World Championships, which begin on July 21st. Vergani’s primary event, the men’s 50m freestyle, begins on July 26th.
Here is the verbiage of NADO Italia Court’s decision:
The Second Section of the TNA declares the athlete Andrea Vergani (registered with the FIN) responsible for the violation of art. 2.1 CSA, imposes the disqualification of 3 months starting from 19 April 2019, date of its precautionary suspension, and expiration on 18 July 2019 and cancels the results achieved by the athlete on 2 April 2019 at the Absolute Italian Swimming Championships held in Riccione , rejecting any other questions. Also condemns Mr. Vergani to pay court costs quantified at 350 euros.
At the Absolute Italian Swimming Championships mentioned above, Vergani took the gold in the men’s 50m freestyle in a then-#3 time in the world of 21.53. With those results null and void, as well as the fact that he will still be under suspension during the Sette Colli Trophy, another qualification meet, his participation in Gwangju would be solely by coaching discretion.
The man has proven he’s capable of medaling for Italy, having taken the 50m bronze at last year’s European Championships, as well as a bronze as a member of Italy’s 4x50m freestyle relay at the 2018 Short Course World Championships.
Claim High Anxiety and file a TUE.
He swam an A-Time at last years European Champs so time wise I think he has fullfilled the requirements to compete at Worlds.
Something that I’d like to understand. when a swimmer get suspended , is the swimmer allow to keep on training?
Yes… Nobody is stopping the person from training on their own. Sometimes the team they train with will suspend them, or some punishments have included suspended team training handed down from Fina. But never have I heard of a suspension preventing a person from outright training. A person may stop training for their sport if they were banned, but not suspended.
Even banning I think it would be too harsh to stop someone from training.. unless the person is banned on a sexual abuse/violence situation
yeah, because cannabis automatically defined a person is not a good person…
Not even the drug traffic support could be used as anyone know that this is not what gives money to drug cartels.
Also marijuana is legal in many places already too..
agreed
BREAKING: Half of NCAA swimming & diving suspended after testing positive for cannabis in nationwide test
They didnt inhale tho its all second hand smoke
Reckon he’s baked in for the final, no risk of being weeded out earlier.
Rimshot!
We live in a authoritarian society
more than that ….