This type of news is difficult to deal with. From wherever you look at it, beyond the truth and the process that led to it disqualification of Manila Pennacchio from the Italian Showdown, sorry and hurt terribly. We interviewed her last April, if you want you can also read it his recent interview, but first here is the press release released on the social media of the event:
Manila Pennacchio is disqualified from the competition due to the violation of CrossFit Anti-Doping Rules: it was positive for the substances GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone, metabolites of GW1516. The Pennacchio is suspended for four years starting from the 26 Aprile 2019 and will not be able to compete again until the 26 Aprile 2023. The final classification is updated.
Manila Pennacchio of CrossFit Team 059 of Modena she had finished fifth at the Italian. A top 10 of value that certified the great value of his performance and a career made not only of great results, but also of great notoriety for those who follow this sport.
What happens now? The American Amanda Goodman enters right into Top 10 and all other positions are actually climbed. Here is the current situation.
Senior F - Top 10
1 - Erin Vandendriessche (link to the interview) - United States (Root 18 CrossFit)
2 - Feeroozeh Saghafi - United States (CrossFit Mentality)
3 - Stephanie Chung - United States (CrossFit Pallas)
4 - Manon Angonese (link to the interview) - Germany (Ano CrossFit)
5 - Meredith Swindle - United States (Coyote CrossFit)
6 - Ekaterina Makarova - Russia (CrossFit Tirus)
7 - Anastasia Vladimirova - Russia (CrossFit Tirus)
8 - Lisa Eble - Germany (CrossFit JackHammer)
9 - Aoife Burke - Ireland (CrossFit ShapeSmiths)
10 - Amanda Goodman - United States (Independent)
Manila Pennacchio is therefore disqualified (imagine) from the Italian Showdown and suppose from every official and sanctioned CrossFit competition for the next 4 years. We are in contact with the athlete for legal information on his future. In the meantime, more or less a week ago, here is what Manila wrote on its social networks.
The 26 April 2019 is off to the Italianshowdown race with the desire to have fun and have a good experience. I am aware that there would be doping tests and that I would definitely be tested. I was there quietly knowing that I had nothing to hide or much less to fear. My amazement when I learn that I failed the Test for a substance, such as the Cardarina, which I state that I have not voluntarily hired to benefit in sports performance.
I immediately appealed in order to shed light on this matter not knowing the details and conditions in which the tests were carried out, quantities present, etc. with the help of my lawyer @lucamorassutto and a WADA recognized expert to examine all the documents that apparently have emerged not entirely in order. The fact is that yesterday at 13 pm I presented an appeal where all the technical assessments of the case were explained and why there would be no conditions for a complete possible "sentence" and already tonight I received a negative acceptance response.
Not even 10 hours have passed. So this appeal was not even considered well. The thing that matters most to me since crossfit already publicly announces the results of the tests even before the other party could expose it to the end, is that I wanted to be able to tell it to all of you who have always supported me. Maybe now that crossfit is no longer on social media, it would have been muted, but I'm still me, the one who for better or for worse always says what he thinks.
The possible explanations are to have taken it through environmental contamination or supplements as the presence was minimal and if I had wanted to take it deliberately the concentration should have been much higher. (technical evaluations in the appeal which I will tell you in detail soon).
Those who know me know how much hard work there is to build all this and I'm only sorry that this news has slipped on the mouths of those who already judged only by hearsay without knowing the truthfulness of the facts, but I just hope that you all remember what a person I am , so much so that it deserves all your support.
Follow with CrossMag all the developments of the story.