Italian Masters swimmer Marco Bolzan has been sanctioned after testing positive for the banned substance tuaminoheptane.
According to ChemEurope, tuaminoheptane is also known as a nasal decongestant. Because of the drug’s vasoconstriction abilities (the narrowing of blood vessels) and ability to produce norepinephrine, the drug is used as a stimulant. The norepinephrine release causes causes the body’s fight-or-flight response, which include increased heart rates and increased blood flow to muscles.
Bolzan’s sanction was released by NADO Italia on September 6th. He received a 6 month suspension along with a fine of € 378.00, equivalent to about 437 US dollars, to cover the proceedings.
The 26-year-old competed at the 2017 FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest. His best performance came in the 200 meter free, where he placed 49th at 2:11.97.
Nobody suspects the guy was just using a nasal spray? Sure, maybe he noticed it got him a bit jacked up, too, and thought it might be good on race day. Hey, I’ve been swimming Masters for years and sometimes I pop a large coffee about thirty minutes before my first race. And yes, there are probably some guys on HGH or other designer meds, and I wonder how much it helps them. But this is, after all, Masters. Masters?! You tawkin bout Masters?! Yes, I’d like to think it’s all fair and even. I’m okay with testing, but at what cost? ANYWAY … My great or poor performance means virtually nothing to anyone but myself. (And, by the way,… Read more »
RACING MYSELF – you make some fair points about the nature of Masters Swimming for 99.9% of competitors, but don’t forget: there are individuals who make money off Masters Swimming. It’s not gobs and gobs of money, but there have been some small endorsements for Masters’ swimmers, as well as money earned through indirect routes like blogging.
I’m actually a little surprised that there aren’t more low-level endorsements. Speaking as someone who has a dad who has been into “Masters” levels of competition my entire life (not swimming, but running, cycling, golf, and his latest obsession pickleball), I can say with certainty that if my dad is at his local cycling club/golf course/pickleball court, and sees someone who’s better than… Read more »
Also, there is an an entire community of elite masters swimmers who are focused on national and world rankings, records, and yes, potential money. I am one of them. This community is at least semi-professional in its training to become the fastest in the world, and we invest a tremendous amount of time and money to challenge the limits of human performance. Many of these swimmers are former national team members and Olympic champion. Do not be fooled into thinking that the competitive spirit is diminished when such people step on the blocks. SOme of us are even swimming in the TYR Pro swim series at the age of 47…. If you don’t know about this world it is because… Read more »
There is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy.
Dumb.
We know. It wasn’t funny and actually lowers the quality of the discussion. SMH
You might want to go easy on the Miralax.
Has there been any ruling yet on the length of the doping suspension of Filippo Magnini who was Federica Pellegrini’s live-in boyfriend for six years?
The prosecutor in charge of the case has requested a 8-year ban. There is no ruling yet as far as I know.
Does Italy test it’s Master’s swimmers as well? Or did this swimmer turn up to a Non-Masters event and get tested? It would be great for International Masters events to be tested. There are some countries who have a history of state sponsored doping who also have a very large presence in European Masters swimming.
In Italy there’s doping control also in Master swimming meeting. I swim in Italy, I’m a Master and I’ve seen doping control at the meets.
There was doping control at the Asia Pacific Masters Games in the swimming events last week.
Does this mean that Italian masters federation is a signatory of WADA? How would they regulate dosage as many older masters athletes are on medication?
Crazy that the guy in 49th gets caught when there are obvious dopers at masters meets due to the lack of testing. FINA needs to replicate the same on site testing to keep the sport clean at all stages.
Greetings Andy, when you say “there are obvious dopers at masters meets” what do you mean? Can you clarify? I compete at a very high level of masters swimming, and swam to four silver medals at last year’s World Championship. I lost the 50 free to a former member of the Russian swim team, I lost the 50 breaststroke to a former member of the Ukraine Olympic Team who then switched to swim for the Turkish Olympic Team, and lost the 100 Breast to a swimmer from the Czech Team. This is in the Men’s 45- 49 age group so these are men who competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics. I have, on occasion, wondered if the reason… Read more »
Pretty egotistical to suggest you only lost cause all these guys were on drugs. Drug testing at masters will never happen because it costs money and no one cares that much. Imagine running a TUE system for masters? I have known masters swimmers who dope but most do not.
Pretty unfortunate of you to fail to comprehend what I wrote – “I have, on occasion, wondered if the reason I did not win a World Championship is because my competitors used performance enhancing drugs, either during their Olympic heyday or now during their masters careers.” Notice I said, “wondered on occasion” if this was the reason. That is far from saying I only lost because all these guys were on drugs. In fact, during the competition, I had no such thoughts. I congratulated those that defeated me and even drank a beer with some of them and at the time, we became friends. It wasn’t until AFTER I returned from Budapest (the competition) and watched the Icarus documentary, that… Read more »
Lol that’s like a 14 year olds time and one at the upper end too
Whoops lower end
Well, it’s hard to breathe through your nose when you’re congested.
Dude needs steroids to go 2:11? Come on dude.