Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler, who had been selected for the national squad for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, has tested positive for a banned substance, according to reports from the newspaper La Repubblica. The substance found in the 24-year-old athlete’s system was letrozole—a medication primarily utilized in the treatment of cancer.
It has been noted that the sample in question was collected during out-of-competition testing. This marks the initial doping controversy to emerge ahead of the Olympics, which are set to commence on February 6th.
Passler, currently positioned 33rd in the overall World Cup standings, boasts two bronze medals from World Cup relay events, in addition to accolades garnered at the Junior and Youth World Championships. The first medal events in biathlon are scheduled to take place on February 8th in the mixed relay competition.
Previously, the International Olympic Committee indicated that should a neutral athlete from Russia secure a victory at the 2026 Games in Italy, the flag designated for Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) would be raised, accompanied by the corresponding anthem. The IOC stressed that this protocol remains unaltered. Consequently, the IOC has reaffirmed the existing regulations in the lead-up to the Winter Olympics scheduled from February 6th through the 22nd.
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