Italy's double Olympic gold medallist swimmer Domenico Fioravanti is temporarily out of competition after failing a fitness test, throwing his participation in next year's Olympics into doubt.
The Italian Swimming Federation said that Fioravanti, who won gold in the 100 metres and 200 metres breastroke in Sydney in 2000, failed a routine medical test carried out by the country's Olympic Committee. Fioravanti told Italy's Sky television that the tests revealed a minor heart problem.
"This news has knocked me down, because it was unexpected," said the 26-year-old.
"For years I have been monitored for a minor irregularity in my heartbeat. It is not a serious matter but when you are at a competitive level you need to be at 100 percent. We have tests every six months and at the last one there was an anomaly. It knocked me down but I will look to bounce back."
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