Stanozolol is a steroid for animals; race horses in particular. For human consumption, it’s considered a Schedule III controlled substance, which means you need a damn good reason to be taking it under a doctor’s orders. Winning amateur bike races is not one of those reasons and the Italian National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) agrees.

NADO provisionally suspended amateur cyclist Giorgio Valentini on 21 June after he tested positive for the banned substances Stanozolol and Testosterone at a random out-of-competition check conducted on 11 May 2021.

Without issue, Valentini did not contest the results and admitted using the banned drugs. NADO handed down a three-year ban on 24 June, just three days after issuing the provisional suspension.

Italian cycling news website Ciclocolor reports a Giorgio Valentini as winning the 40-44 year old 2020 ACSI Regional Road Championship held last September in Gallo di Petriano.

Stanozolol is a synthetic steroid made from Testosterone that dramtically increases muscle mass, specifically thighs, without adding fat mass. It also has been shown to promote healing of bone, connective tissue, and muscle tissue, all while reducing total body inflammation.

The most notable Stanozolol doping case in cycling is Spanish pro Alberto Gallego who in 2016 tested positive for the banned substance less than a month into his new contract with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, he was subsequently fired.

PHOTOS: Guardian

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