A spoonful of hazelnut spread has turned the 25-year-old’s life upside down. She will miss both the Norwegian season opener in Geilo in a week and a half and the World Cup opener in Kontiolahti.

When the Italian World Cup team travels to the Norwegian season opener in Geilo in a week and a half, one of its stars will be missing. 

Rebecca Passler is considered one of Italy’s most promising young talents behind superstar Lisa Vittozzi. But it is now confirmed that she is not among the 12 Italians who will race the Norwegian season opener in Geilo on the weekend of November 14–15 or the World Cup opener in Kontiolahti on November 26. 

Being left out is a big disappointment for the 25-year-old from Anterselva. This summer she brought in Norwegian Olympic legend Egil Gjelland as her coach, and she had set ambitious goals for the coming season. 

But now her future is in the hands of the Italian anti-doping agency (NADO). The doping case against Passler has still not been decided. Passler has waited almost a year for a decision. NADO handled the case in October but has not been in contact since.

For this reason, the Italian federation has now chosen to leave Passler out of the season opener 

“We have to wait for the final decision. That is why we have not selected Rebecca,” head coach Klaus Höllrigl tells Italian media.  

Also Read: Tested positive for doping – still allowed to compete at the Olympics

Has waited almost a year

She tested positive for the banned substance letrozole shortly before the Olympics in Italy. The Italian appeals court lifted her suspension on February 13. The court found it likely that she had taken in the substance by accident. Passler has explained that, on the morning before the doping test, she used a spoon that her mother had used during treatment with the substance when she helped herself to Nutella spread.

However, the case is not closed. NADO will assess whether Passler is responsible for the contamination. If it concludes that she is responsible, she could be suspended. 

Unknown 22-year-old called up

Fabiana Carpella joins the team instead. The 22-year-old, whose best individual result is 12th place in the IBU Cup, could now make her World Cup debut in Passler’s absence. 

The rest of the women’s team is Lisa Vittozzi, Michela Carrara, Martina Trabucchi and Samuela Comola. 

On the men’s side, the team is Tommaso Giacomel, who makes a comeback after he had his Olympic final ruined by heart problems and an early summer marked by injuries and bad luck, Lukas Hofer, Didier Bionaz, Nicola Romanin, Elia Zeni and Christoph Pircher.

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