In April, Alex Schwazer won the German running championships. But on Monday, the German Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) announced that it had detected the blood doping agent EPO in Schwazer's urine and blood samples.
He now risks a third doping ban, which would lead to a lifetime ban. He denies the allegations.
"I haven't taken anything, but I don't have faith in the system anymore," he said.
The Italian won Olympic gold in the 50-kilometre race in Beijing. But before the 2012 Olympics, he tested positive for EPO and was banned for almost four years.
However, that suspension was lifted, and he attempted a comeback at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. That effort failed when he again failed a doping test and was banned for eight years.
