Walker Schwazer excluded after positive EPO test

The International Olympic Committee today rubber-stamped the exclusion of Italian race-walker Alex Schwazer from the London Games.

The 27-year-old tested positive for the blood-boosting agent EPO after providing a sample on July 30 in Italy.

He had intended to walk the 50-kilometre and 20km but withdrew from the shorter race just before the Olympics began.

Italy’s Olympic federation, CONI, banished Schwazer on Monday, and he immediately admitted his guilt.

The IOC have formally confirmed he has been banned from the 50km race walk, which takes place tomorrow.

An IOC statement said: “The International Olympic Committee today announced that it had declared Italian athlete Alex Schwazer (race walking) ineligible to compete at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London for an anti-doping rule violation.”

Ireland's Robert Heffernan will compete in the 50km walk tomorrow.