Overview

• In a Vanity Fair interview published Oct. 8, Antonella Palmisano said Alex Schwazer's doping case put racewalking in a bad light and damaged the discipline's image.
• The Olympic 20 km champion reiterated that dopers should be permanently excluded, saying there are no second chances.
• Palmisano noted she does not know Schwazer personally but argued his case continues to harm perceptions of the event.
• She renewed criticism of European Athletics and national bodies for omissions in promotional materials, crediting FIDAL president Stefano Mei for removing an erroneous post.
• To boost visibility, Palmisano proposed scheduling changes such as avoiding 8 a.m. starts, while no broader policy reforms have been announced by federations.