Olympic race walk champion Alex Schwatzer of Italy has failed a doping test for the third time in his career and faces another ban as well as a criminal investigation.
The German Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) said on Monday that Schwatzer tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoetine (EPO) in his urine and blood sample taken at a marathon race walk event in the German town of Kelsterbach.
The NADA has started proceedings and informed prosecutors of the case. Doping is a criminal offence in Germany.
Schwatzer was quoted as telling a news conference that "I am innocent, I didn't use EPO or any other substances."
He added that he won't lodge an appeal because he had no more strength to do so: "I am 41 years old, have a wonderful family and my life. My job has nothing to do with high performance sport."
He however said that he had requested the opening of the b-sample and that a third urine sample in possession of his coach was also to be examined.
"I take notice that I simply can't stay in sport," he said.
Schwatzer won Olympic gold in 2008 in the 50-kilometres event.
He tested positive for EPO before the 2012 Games, admitted to the offence and was banned for four years.
Another ban, this time for eight years, came after a positive test for anabolic steroids in 2016. Schwatzer has always protested his innocence in this case but his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport was dismissed.
