Nine cases of sports doping uncovered in Malta last year

Nine cases of sports doping were uncovered by the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) in 2015, with a further two sportspersons evading sample collection.

The information was tabled in parliament by employment minister Evarist Bartolo in response to a parliamentary question by Labour whip Godfrey Farrugia.

The vast majority – seven – of the sportspersons who were found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs last year were regatta racers. The remaining two were a futsal player and a boxer.

Bartolo added that a disciplinary hearing will soon hear the cases against the boxer and five of the regatta racers.

NADO conducted a total of 72 anti-doping tests last year, 61 of which were in-competition and the remaining 11 of which were out-of-competition.