Mauricio Fiol announced that he will not compete in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games this Thursday, after testing positive for stanozolol in anti-doping controls. The swimmer, who had carried the flag to compete again with Perú, was notified about the doping and will be absent from official swimming events until further notice.
The prohibited substance was found once again in the national swimmer's blood, who was expecting to make a comeback in the continental competition after four years, following a harsh punishment for using the same synthetic anabolic steroid.
"My first responsibility is to go out and inform about this information that has me puzzled, as I have never consumed that substance," stated the local athlete through a video on Facebook, visibly upset, in which he shared the results of the last four tests performed by the International Swimming Federation (Fina) before Lima 2019.
"I would truly be despicable to my family and all the people who love me if I did it after everything I've had to suffer these four years. I would have to be a self-destructive sick person to take a substance for which I have already been unjustly punished," he added in his statement.
In this way, Fiol will not be able to represent Peru in the 4x100 free, 4x200 free, 4x100 medley, and 4x200 medley relays at the Pan American Games.
"From today on, I will devote all my strength to discover what happened and prove my innocence. Unfortunately, that is going to take some time and the first consequence is that I will not fulfill my dream of returning to the Pan American Games," said Mauricio Fiol with great discomfort.
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