In the latest round of decisions issued by the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of Italy, triathlete and cyclist Nicola Mughetti received a four-year banned after returning a positive anti-doping test result for the experimental substance GW1516.

A 30-34 amateur age group triathlete, Mughetti is listed in the top 5% of IRONMAN® athletes worldwide. In 2022, using Gran Fondo Via del Sale and Gran Fondo Nove Colli for training, he finished 18th at Ironman Italy Emilia-Romagna.

GW1516 is not approved for human consumption, has no recognized therapeutic uses and was found to cause rapid terminal cancer when tested on rats – it also dramatically increased the physical performance of the rats, until they died from cancer.

The human risk associated with using the drug is so great Australia labeled it a Schedule 10 poison – a substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use for any reason.

Anti-doping organizations have long cautioned athletes that many nutritional supplements contain GW1516 – intentionally or unintentionally. Though, World Anti-Doping Agency’s Strict Liability – Ignorance Is No Excuse rules state: 1) An anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance is found in an athlete’s bodily specimen. 2) The violation occurs whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

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