Former Olympic race walking gold medallist Alex Schwazer has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence under a plea bargain deal with prosecutors investigating him for doping, and hopes to compete again.
Schwazer will also pay a 6,000 euro ($A9,000)- fine as part of Monday's deal.
Schwazer, who won the 50-kilometre walk at the 2008 Beijing Games, failed a test before arriving at the 2012 London Olympics and was removed from Italy's team before competing. He admitted using the blood-boosting hormone EPO, and said he was quitting the sport.
Schwazer wants to compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, with his 3 1/2-year ban from the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) due to expire in January, 2016. However, CONI is still investigating him and could extend his ban.
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