40 YEAR-OLD ESPORTS RACER FAILS REAL WORLD ANTI-DOPING TEST

UPDATE 22 December 2023: NADO Italia issued a 3 year ban to Zanasca for Stanozolol doping.

NADO Italia (National Anti-Doping Organization) announced on Friday that 40 year-old esports cyclist Luca Zanasca of Italy tested positive for Stanozolol in an out-of-competition test and has been provisionally suspended.

Zanasca is a former in-real-life pro (2003-2012) and current elite virtual racer who represented Italy in the Elite Men’s 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships last February, where he finished 57th after being eliminated in the first round. He also competed in the MyWhoosh Elite/Pro $1,000,000 Championship in April, finishing 17th overall, and was one of 18 pro/elite riders selected to participate in the Elite Pro Series on Zwift last year.

Stanozolol is a cheap and popular banned anabolic steroid that mimics the effects of testosterone to boost muscle growth and quick recovery, while maintaining lean body mass. It is often used illegally in race horses. When used by humans the drug has various negative side effects including: menstrual irregularities, acne, atrophy of the breasts in women; testicular atrophy, prostatic hypertrophy in men; and risk of heart attacks, strokes, liver damage, and psychiatric disturbances in both sexes.

NADO’s preliminary suspension of Zanasca does not preclude him from competing on Zwift, MyWhoosh or other virtual racing platforms that are not obligated to follow World Anti-Doping Agency code. Each virtual racing platform sets and administers its own anti-doping rules.

A hearing will be scheduled at a future date where Zanasca can challenge or accept NADO’s findings.

Photo Credit: UCI/Zwift

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