A Limited Series Questions The Circumstances of A Notorious Doping Case
Alex Schwazer: Running for My Truth (2023)
A Quick TV Review
For entertainment, "Running for My Truth" has the right ingredients: a likable leading man in race walker Alex Schwazer, a compelling sidekick in his trainer Sandro Donati, romance with a celebrity in Sochi 2014 figure skating medalist Carolina Kostner, crime, political intrigue, and (possible) international conspiracy.
A Quick TV Review
For entertainment, "Running for My Truth" has the right ingredients: a likable leading man in race walker Alex Schwazer, a compelling sidekick in his trainer Sandro Donati, romance with a celebrity in Sochi 2014 figure skating medalist Carolina Kostner, crime, political intrigue, and (possible) international conspiracy.
The 2023 Netflix limited series sure does present a compelling case questioning the legitimacy of Schwazer's suspension for doping from 2016.
The Beijing 2008 men's 50km race walk champion in Olympic record time, Schwazer was found guilty of doping via EPO (erythropoietin) in 2012. Notably, he readily and infamously tearfully admitted to short-term use, falling victim to what he understood as systemic doping from others, particularly Russian athletes.
Missing London 2012 with the suspension, his efforts to return - openly cleanly - for Rio 2016 were thwarted by a second doping positive, catching him and his trainer off guard. And that's the real meat of Running...did he really dope again, or was there a conspiracy to manipulate the testing results?
The Italian-produced Running ("Il Caso Alex Schwazer", or "The Alex Schwazer Case" as originally titled) clearly leans into that latter theory. Schwazer's renewed training was guided by Donati, a respected anti-doping figure in Italy, but someone who has certain history of having rubbed powerful people the wrong way. Was those figures punish Donati via Schwazer?
Schwazer's boyish charm goes a long way in supporting wide-eyed and emotional distraught. How could this likable fellow - who was so ashamed at being caught once - dope a second time? And under such odd circumstances? Those viewers following the complicated and circumstantial theories of his innocence - including Italian courts! - will be devastated seeing him suffer suspension effectively through Paris 2024, ending his career.
Meanwhile, the machinery of World Athletics and the World Anti-Doping Agency plods along, committed to their version of the testing results. What's the truth? It's a good watch that ultimately leads to frustration over the often murky and unclear circumstances around elite sport and performances, and officials charged with oversight.
By the way, did anyone share these few random thoughts I had?
The Beijing 2008 men's 50km race walk champion in Olympic record time, Schwazer was found guilty of doping via EPO (erythropoietin) in 2012. Notably, he readily and infamously tearfully admitted to short-term use, falling victim to what he understood as systemic doping from others, particularly Russian athletes.
Missing London 2012 with the suspension, his efforts to return - openly cleanly - for Rio 2016 were thwarted by a second doping positive, catching him and his trainer off guard. And that's the real meat of Running...did he really dope again, or was there a conspiracy to manipulate the testing results?
The Italian-produced Running ("Il Caso Alex Schwazer", or "The Alex Schwazer Case" as originally titled) clearly leans into that latter theory. Schwazer's renewed training was guided by Donati, a respected anti-doping figure in Italy, but someone who has certain history of having rubbed powerful people the wrong way. Was those figures punish Donati via Schwazer?
Schwazer's boyish charm goes a long way in supporting wide-eyed and emotional distraught. How could this likable fellow - who was so ashamed at being caught once - dope a second time? And under such odd circumstances? Those viewers following the complicated and circumstantial theories of his innocence - including Italian courts! - will be devastated seeing him suffer suspension effectively through Paris 2024, ending his career.
Meanwhile, the machinery of World Athletics and the World Anti-Doping Agency plods along, committed to their version of the testing results. What's the truth? It's a good watch that ultimately leads to frustration over the often murky and unclear circumstances around elite sport and performances, and officials charged with oversight.
By the way, did anyone share these few random thoughts I had?
- As a race walker, shouldn't Schwazer be walking for his truth?!
- I had no idea Kostner had been in a relationship with Schwazer...and that she lied to help him evade testers deserves a separate read,..
- That Schwazer teamed up with Donati post-initial suspension reminded me of the Richie Roberts and Frank Lucas partnership in American Gangster. Just me?
- Race walking rival Jared Tallent is shown mentioning his distrust of Schwazer in his competition return, particularly due to Schwazer's "changing stories". Now that was a dangling quote that went unexplored from the pro-Schwazer production. What 'changing stories'?
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