Massimiliano Bernardi, a player for La Fiorita Futsal, has been handed a six-month suspension following an anti-doping check carried out during the match against Virtus Acquaviva. The decision was issued by the Results Management Authority of the San Marino NADO (National Anti-Doping Organisation), which acknowledged that the substance had been taken unintentionally, while nonetheless finding the athlete guilty of negligent conduct.
Bernardi had been selected for one of the “in-competition” tests 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 to treat flu symptoms, including a tablet of Momentxsin, a drug containing pseudoephedrine — a substance that had been added to the prohibited list on the day of the match.
“Analysis carried out by the anti-doping laboratory in Rome found the presence of a substance, ‘cathine’, above the permitted limits,” reads the NADO statement. The test detected a concentration of 6.27 μg/ml, above the 6 μg/ml threshold set by the WADA 2026 Prohibited List.
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 presented, and taking into account the athlete’s cooperation in clarifying the circumstances of the drug intake, his declaration at the time of testing, and the fact that the intake was not linked to performance enhancement, the Results Management Authority nonetheless found that there had been a violation of anti-doping regulations, given the presence of cathine in the athlete’s urine,” the statement reads.
A six-month suspension was therefore imposed, with the sanction’s duration 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 athletes about in every anti-doping course: an athlete is always responsible for the medication they take and must verify that it does not contain any prohibited substances. This responsibility remains even in cases of unintentional intake, with no intention whatsoever of enhancing sporting performance,” said Claudio Muccioli, President of the NADO.
“The Bernardi case 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 bears responsibility for everything he ingests and must carry out all necessary checks before taking any medication,” Muccioli concluded.
