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Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler (R) hands over to teammate Dorothea Wierer during the women's 4 x 6 km relay of the Biathlon World Cup. Passler may in be line for a dramatic Olympic comeback after her provisional suspension for a positive doping test was lifted. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler may in be line for a dramatic Olympic comeback after her provisional suspension for a positive doping test was lifted.
The appeals court of Italy's national anti-doping authority NADO made the ruling after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Milan had sent back the case.
"Rebecca Passler has been readmitted to Milan Cortina 2026," a statement from the Italian Winter Sport Federation said on Friday, adding that she will join her team mates from Monday. She could therefore appear in the women's Olympic relay on Wednesday if team bosses pick her.
Passler added: "I have always believed in my good faith. I would like to thank everyone who helped me, from the lawyers who followed my case to the Italian Winter Sports Federation, my family, and friends. Now I can finally get back to focusing 100% on biathlon."
According to Italy's anti-doping agency, she had tested positive for letrozole during an out-of-competition test in January. The drug can be used to lower estrogen levels, but is mainly used to treat cancer.
The biathlete argued that it was a case of contamination and that she was not at fault. The appeals court said she was able to prove this credibly.
The reason for the contamination was reportedly a shared love for Nutella with her mother.
Passler's mother has breast cancer and the medication was at their home, the Ansa news agency said, which could explain the traces of letrozole in Passler's system.
"The established habit of both individuals to consume Nutella for breakfast clearly indicates accidental saliva contamination of the Nutella container, with which the athlete inadvertently came into contact," the report said.
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