UPDATE 31 January 2023: Michele Luigi Rubeis has been found guilty of doping by NADO and suspended from competition for two years, from 11/22/2022 through 11/21/24.

Another Italian amateur cyclist has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti Doping Organization (NADO) after returning a positive test result for the banned drug Clostebol.

With an anti-doping test carried out by NADO, 60 year-old cyclocross and MTB racer Michele Luigi Rubeis (CICLISTICA L AQUILA A.PICCO ASD) allegedly violated anti-doping articles 2.1, which states“Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in the biological sample of an Athlete” and 2.2, “Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Substance or Method Forbidden.”

Clostebol is a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone that is normally prescribed by doctors for ophthalmological, dermatological and gynecological uses. Some countries also allow its use to fatten livestock.

The banned drug originally developed in East Germany in the 1970’s has long been used by endurance athletes to keep testosterone levels high and estrogen low, making it a seemingly trouble-free way to add muscle mass without bulking up or experiencing other unwanted side effects. 

Rubeis is the seventh amateur Italian cyclist testing positive for Clostebol in the last three years, with the most notable gran fondo rider Marco Provera.

A NADO hearing has yet to be scheduled for Rubeis to present his side of the story in court, until then he is provisionally suspended from all competitions.

Photos/Media: stock