World champion figure skater Carolina Kostner is being hauled before Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) officials investigating whether she was complicit in the doping of her former boyfriend and Olympic race walking champion Alex Schwazer.
The Beijing 2008 gold medallist in the 50 kilometre event tested positive for drugs days before he was due to defend his title at London 2012.
After being found to have used blood-boosting substance Erythropoietin (EPO), the CONI banned Schwazer for three-and-a-half years in April 2013.
Now his former girlfriend, who won World Championship gold in 2012 and bronze at Sochi 2014, is being summoned to a hearing on Friday (September 19) about evidence she gave to prosecutors in Bolzano who are investigating the case.
A short statement on CONI’s website today confirms Kostner has been called to “answer” claims.
After failing a doping test, Schwazer announced his retirement, saying: “I made a mistake, my career is ended here.
“I did it all myself and on my own head so I assume all the responsibility for what has happened.”
It has been alleged coaches and doctors knew of Schwazer’s doping long before he tested positive in 2012.
In June last year, the International Association of Athletics Federations denied claims it covered up evidence of Schwazer’s doping prior to him being caught, saying it “categorically refutes these claims in the strongest possible terms”.
This article first appeared in Inside the Games and has been reproduced with permission. The original article can be viewed by clicking here.