Wed, February 04, 2026
Italian biathlete suspended for doping just before Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games
24-year-old Italian biathlete, Rebecca Passler, has been provisionally suspended from competing in the mixed team relay on February 8, 2026 at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games after testing positive for ‘Letrozole metabolite bis, methanol’ following an out-of-competition test carried out on 26 January. The Milano Cortina Games’ opening ceremony is this Friday, and the event will take place between 6-22 February. The Paralympic Games will run from 6-15 March.
Passler placed 11th at the 2024 International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Championships in the women’s 4x6km relay, and this Sunday would have been her Olympic debut at her home games. Johann Passler, her uncle, is an Olympic biathlon medallist, and there were hopes she would follow in his footsteps. However, Letrozole increases testosterone by inhibiting its conversion into oestrogen, and it is known for treating breast cancer. The drug also helps increase muscle mass, assists recovery and controls the effects of steroid use.
The Biathlon Integrity Unit stated that the disciplinary case will be managed by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency.
The following was announced: “The National Anti-Doping Tribunal, accepting the request submitted by the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office, has proceeded to suspend athlete Rebecca Passler as a precautionary measure for violation of articles 2.1, 2.2…The test was ordered by NADO Italy.”
The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) stated: “Having received notification from the International Testing Agency that athlete Rebecca Passler had tested positive, CONI has ordered her immediate exclusion from the team that will compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.” CONI may now choose to replace Passler with another athlete.
President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), Flavio Roda, stated: “the federation has already started investigating the incident in recent hours, with the intention of supporting its athlete in all the appropriate forums."
The FISI stated that it: “has always fought in every possible way against the use of prohibited substances in sport, educating its athletes from a young age to practise sport fairly and in accordance with the rules.”
