Massimiliano Bernardi, a player for La Fiorita Futsal, has been handed a six-month suspension following an anti-doping test carried out during the match against Virtus Acquaviva. The decision was issued by the Results Management Authority of San Marino’s NADO, which acknowledged that the substance had been taken unintentionally, while noting that the athlete had acted negligently.
Bernardi had been selected for an “in-competition” test and, at the end of the match, duly reported to the designated testing room accompanied by a chaperone. On that occasion, he stated that he had taken several medicines that morning due to a bout of flu, including a tablet of Momentxsin, a drug containing pseudoephedrine — a substance that was on the list of prohibited substances on the day of the match.
“Analysis carried out by the anti-doping laboratory in Rome revealed the presence of a substance, ‘cathine’, above the permitted limits,” reads the NADO statement. The test detected a concentration of 6.27 μg/ml, exceeding the 6 μg/ml limit set out in the WADA 2026 List of Prohibited Substances.
In assessing the case, the Authority took into account the player’s cooperation, the statement he made at the time of testing, and the fact that taking the medication was not intended to enhance sporting performance.
“Having examined the documents and evidence submitted, and taking into account the athlete’s cooperation in clarifying the circumstances of how the medication was taken, his statement made at the time of the test, as well as the fact that the intake was not related to enhancing sporting performance, the Results Management Authority nonetheless found that a violation of the anti-doping regulations had occurred, given the presence of cathine in the athlete’s urine,” the statement reads.
A six-month suspension was therefore imposed, with the length of the sanction reduced in light of the unintentional nature of the intake. The ban runs from 18 May 2026, the date the suspension began, and will end on 17 November 2026.
“This case is a textbook example of exactly what we warn young athletes about in every anti-doping course: an athlete is always responsible for the medications they take and must check that they do not contain prohibited substances. This responsibility remains even in cases of unintentional use, with no intention whatsoever of enhancing sporting performance,” said Claudio Muccioli, president of NADO.
“The case of the player Bernardi shows that the athlete did not take the Momentxsin tablet with the intention of altering his performance; however, he was negligent, since, as an athlete, he is aware that he is responsible for everything he takes and must carry out all the necessary checks before taking any medication,” Muccioli concluded.
