Olympic Shock: Italian Biathlete Banned for Doping

Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler has been banned from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics due to a positive doping test. She tested positive for letrozole and methanol just days before the Games. The Italian Olympic Committee and sports bodies are investigating the case and considering a replacement.

Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler has been barred from participating in the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after testing positive for banned substances just days before the event, as announced by Italy's National Olympic Committee on Monday.

The doping incident occurred when Passler was found to have letrozole and methanol in her system, marking the first positive result for an athlete since attendees began arriving in northern Italy for the Games commencing on February 6. Following notification by the International Testing Agency, CONI swiftly ordered her exclusion from the team.

With the 24-year-old athlete potentially facing a lengthy ban, the embarrassment for the host nation grows amid final preparations for the event. The Italian Winter Sports Federation President, Flavio Roda, emphasized the importance of resolving the situation promptly to safeguard both Passler's career and the federation's reputation.