New accusations of doping for Alex Schwazer: these were launched by the German national anti-doping agency, which has initiated proceedings against the Italian walker, who has been suspended as a precaution. In Schwazer, during the German road race championships, traces of erythropoietin were detected “in both urine and blood samples”.
“I am innocent, I have not taken any banned substances”
“I am innocent, I have not taken any banned substances but don’t worry.” Thus Alex Schwazer speaking at a press conference in Bolzano after being found positive for doping (EPO) following an anti-doping test in Germany.
“Anger against me? I don’t know and I don’t care”
“I don’t know and I don’t care.” This is the response given by Alex Schwazer to a question from AGI about possible harassment towards him, after the athlete proclaimed for the second time his innocence in matters of doping when meeting journalists in Bolzano for the Epo positive test found following the anti-doping control of the German Open Race Walking Championships on 26 April in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt am Main airport. On that occasion the 41-year-old walker from South Tyrol had finished with the extraordinary time of 42 kilometers and 195 metres.
«Now my state of mind is very different from ten years ago. Everyone has a tolerance limit. I don’t want to lose my family, my job, my loved ones by going back inside to try to investigate. Then I get lost, that’s also the risk – added Schwazer – I no longer want to risk putting my life aside to throw myself into procedures, hearings and so on”.
Schwazer then reiterated: “I can only say that I didn’t take EPO, I don’t know how it ended up and I’ll say straight away that I don’t want to know anymore, because otherwise I’ll ruin myself and I don’t want to do it: I’m innocent, all the other things don’t interest me, I’ll end it here.”