Athlete Received Longest Non-Lifetime Ban for Repeated Doping Violations

A former long-distance runner was handed the longest non-lifetime ban for repeated doping violations, more than a decade after he gained attention for his performance as an amateur.

Roberto Barbi rose to prominence when he finished sixth at the 1996 New York City marathon as an amateur, but in the same year, was sanctioned with a three-month ban after testing positive for ephedrine, as per Sports Integrity Initiative.

The Italian's career took another turn in 2001, when he was sanctioned with a four-year ban after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) on 30 July 2001.

Barbi was tested shortly before the World Marathon in Edmonton, where he placed 60th. He blamed a flu for his poor showing, according to a report from Canadian publication CBC.

Roberto Frinolli, the federation's technical director at the time, called for more random tests to curb the growing problem after Andrea Longo, an 800m runner from Italy, tested positive for a banned substance.

Image credit: asfalchi

Barbi's sentence was later reduced to 25 months after he cooperated with police and NADO Italia, detailing his EPO use from 1998 onwards.

He continued to compete after the ban but in 2008, Barbi was sanctioned with a 30-year ban after testing positive for EPO and ephedrine on 20 July 2008. The sample was delivered in an in-competition test in Mende, France.

A statement from World Athletics in 2009 confirmed that the IAAF was informed by the Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera (FIDAL) that Barbi had been found guilty of the following doping violation under IAAF Rules:

• Presence of the prohibited substance rh-EPO (S2. Hormones) in his doping control sample (IAAF Rule 32.2a)

They also confirmed that the doping violation related to a sample collected in-competition on 20 July 2008 at the semi marathon held in Mende.

Image credit: The Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera.

The 30-year ban issued to Barbi was later extended to 38 years, meaning it will expire in 2047, when Barbi will be 82 years old.

You can see information on Barbi's lengthy ban on the AIU database website.