Paralympic gold medallist in two-year drugs ban

Paul Carter

The international athletics career of former Paralympic gold medallist Roberto La Barbera looks set to be over, following his banning for two years after failing a doping test.

The Italian long jumper, who took gold at Athens in 2004, tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol.

La Barbera, 43, provided a positive urine sample after competing at the International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) European Athletics Open Championships in Stadskanaal, the Netherlands.

Under IPC regulations, La Barbera will now no longer be eligible to compete in the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.

In a statement, the IWAS said that La Barbera would be stripped of any medals, points and prizes won at the championships where the test took place, and from all competitions from the date of the positive sample in June.

It said: “As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), IWAS remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels.

“IWAS, together with the IPC, all international federations and our member nations, established the IWAS Anti-Doping Code to prevent, in the spirit of fair play, doping in sport for Paralympic athletes. The IWAS Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with general principles of the WADC.”

La Barbera specialised in the F44 category.