Nick Ponzio, a naturalized Italian shut putter from San Diego, California, was planning on competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Not anymore.
The Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) handed Ponzio an 18-month suspension for failing to attend three random doping tests. NADO’s press release read that his ban began on February 28, 2023, and will end on August 27, 2024. This means he will not be able to compete in 2024.
Doping case | Italian shot putter Ponzio banned for 18 months; will miss Paris Olympics
— Anti-Doping Database (@Dopinglist) December 20, 2023
Italian shot putter Nick Ponzio banned for 18 months by Italian Anti-Doping Agency for drug-testing violations, ruling him out of Paris Olympics.https://t.co/VjZPCWqFP3
Ponzio had announced his pending retirement in 2023.
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s anti-doping code of conduct states that no athlete can miss three random tests without a proven and official reason. Earlier this year, the shot putter was suspended for 12 months. On Dec. 20, he agreed to an 18-month suspension.
Ponzio blamed his phone for not functioning.
Ponzio’s best put is 21.83 metres. He finished seventh at the World Indoor Championships with a 21.30m effort in Beograd, Serbia in March last year.
*Featured image, Italian shot putter Nick Ponzio | Photo Credit: AP
