VIDEO SHOWS: PHOTOGRAPHS OF REBECCA PASSLER, FILE FOOTAGE OF THE MILANO CORTINA 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS BIATHLON STADIUM, FOOTAGE OF ITALIAN SIGNAGE AT THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, SOUNDBITE FROM COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) DIRECTOR GENERAL, MATTHIEU REEB ON THE ANTI-DOPING PROCESS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: OBERHOF, GERMANY (RECENT – JANUARY 10, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 1. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF Â ITALY'S REBECCA PASSLER Â IN ACTION DURING THE WOMEN'S 4X6KM RELAY AT THE BIATHLON WORLD CUP EVENT IN OBERHOF OBERHOF, GERMANY (FILE – FEBRUARY 15, 2023) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 2. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PASSLER IN ACTION DURING THE WARM UP BEFORE THE WOMEN'S 15KM INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION AT THE BIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OBERHOF, GERMANY (FILE – FEBRUARY 10, 2023) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 3. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PASSLER IN ACTION DURING THE WOMEN'S 7.5KM SPRINT COMPETITION AT THE BIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ANTERSELVA, ITALY (FILE) (IOC – See restrictions before use) (MUTE) 4. VARIOUS DRONE FOOTAGE OF THE BIATHLON STADIUM MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 5. VARIOUS OF BUILDING WITH TEAM ITALIA SIGNAGE AT THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN MILAN (TWO SHOTS) 6. COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) DIRECTOR GENERAL, MATTHIEU REEB, SPEAKING DURING AN INTERVIEW 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) DIRECTOR GENERAL, MATTHIEU REEB, SAYING: Â Â "Well, the ITA, the International Testing Agency, would probably refer the case to the CAS Anti-doping Division (ADD) for a decision as to whether the athlete should be provisionally suspended or not. That would be the only question put. But obviously, the athlete has a right to request the analysis of the B sample. So, it may take one or two days until we get the case. And the lab must also give the documentation to the ITA. So, technically, the ITA comes to us for a question or request to determine whether the athlete should be suspended for the duration of the Games or not. The CAS ADD will not decide to impose a suspension. This is something that the federation should decide if there is a judgment of guilt. So, we deal only with the problematic for the Games." 8. JOURNALIST SPEAKING TO REEB STORY: Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler has been suspended after testing positive for banned substances four days before the start of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Italy's anti-doping agency NADO said on Monday (February 2). NADO said in a statement that the 24-year-old had tested positive for letrozole and methanol. This is the first positive test of an athlete since national teams have started arriving in the northern Italian city for the February 6 start of the Games. "The National Anti-Doping Tribunal, accepting the request submitted by the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office, has proceeded to suspend athlete Rebecca Passler as a precautionary measure for violation of articles 2.1, 2.2," it said, while also listing the banned substances. "The test was ordered by NADO Italy," it said. Passler, whose best result was 11th in the women's 4x6km relay at the 2024 IBU World Championships, now faces disqualification from her home Olympics and potentially a lengthy ban. The positive test is also an embarrassment for the host nation as it rushes to complete preparations for the Games. The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is handling disputes during the Games, explained to Reuters on Monday what the process would be should an athlete appeal a decision, CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said it could take a few days before a case is resolved and any final suspension would be determined by the international federation. (Production: Matthew Childs, Lisa Leutner, Noemie Olive, Iain Axon, Tim Hart)
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