Olympic Champion Alex Schwazer Tests Positive for Doping for Third Time

Italian Olympic race walking champion Alex Schwazer faces a potential lifetime ban after testing positive for a banned substance for the third time in his career. The German anti-doping agency (Nada) reported that Schwazer's sample showed traces of EPO, a hormone commonly used for doping.

The positive test occurred in April during the German championships, where the 41-year-old athlete had won the marathon walk event with an Italian record time of 3:01:55. This performance has now been suspended pending the investigation.

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I am innocent, but I will not defend myself again. I no longer trust the system.

Schwazer, the 50km race walk gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has a history of doping violations. He previously admitted to using EPO before the 2012 London Olympics, receiving a nearly four-year ban. He was later banned for eight years in 2016 after traces of steroids were found in his sample following the Rio Olympics.

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I don't know what they have against me, and I don't care anymore. Let them do what they want. If I found out, I would destroy myself.

"I am innocent, but I will not defend myself again. I no longer trust the system," Schwazer stated at a press conference, according to AP. "I don't know what they have against me, and I don't care anymore. Let them do what they want. If I found out, I would destroy myself."

Nada is currently reviewing Schwazer's B sample and has exceptionally requested a third urine test. His lawyer, Gerhard Brandstätter, commented, "Requesting a third urine sample shows that we do not trust the system."

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Requesting a third urine sample shows that we do not trust the system.