Roberto Barbi

Roberto Barbi (born 25 March 1965), born in Switzerland but Tuscan of Bagni di Lucca,^[2] is a former Italian long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon.

Roberto Barbi

Personal information
National team	Italy: 5 caps (1994-1999)[1]
Born	(1965-03-25) 25 March 1965 (age 60) Switzerland[1]
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	56 kg (123 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Marathon
Club	Cover Avo[1]
Retired	2009
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	Half marathon: 1:01:49 (2000) Marathon: 2:10:12 (2000)

He is currently serving a 38 year competition ban for repeated violations of anti-doping regulations. The ban will expire in 2047 when Barbi will be 82 years old.^[3]

Biography

He finished twentieth in the marathon event at the 1999 World Championships, and 37th at the 1999 World Half Marathon Championships.^[4] He also competed at the 2001 World Championships, but was disqualified.

His personal best marathon time was 2:10:12 hours, achieved in October 2000 in Venice. He had 1:02:09 hours in the half marathon, achieved in April 1999 in Milan.^[4]

Doping

In 1996 Barbi tested positive for Ephedrine and was subsequently handed a three-month ban from sports.^[5][6]

In 2001 he tested positive for EPO in a sample collected 30 July, the day he'd arrived in Edmonton for the 2001 World Athletics Championships.^[3] His result from the marathon was disqualified, and he received a four-year ban from sports. The ban was later reduced to 25 months, after he cooperated with the Italian anti-doping authorities and police, giving detailed information about his doping. He admitted to have used EPO since 1998.^[3]

In 2008 he tested positive for both EPO and Ephedrine. The sample was delivered on 20 July 2008 in an in-competition test in Mende, Lozère. This time he received a suspension for life.^[7]

History of disqualifications

Barbi, despite having been repeatedly disqualified, has repeatedly violated the terms of his disqualification by participating in running competitions.^[8]

• 1998: 4 mouths for ephedrine^[8]
• 2001: 4 years until 31 August 2005 (he will be 40 years old)
• 2009: disqualification for life
• 2009: reduced disqualification until 9 March 2024 (he will be 59 years old)
• 2018: 8 years until 29 July 2032 (he will be 67 years old)^[9]
• 2020: 15 years until 28 July 2047 (he will be 82 years old)^[9]

Achievements

• All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing  Italy
1999	World Championships	Seville, Spain	20th	2:18:13
2001	World Championships	Edmonton, Canada	DSQ (60th)	DSQ