After his collapse during the Tour of Catalonia, European cycling champion Sonny Colbrelli was fitted with a defibrillator.
The operation was carried out in a hospital in Padua, which Colbrelli has since left, according to his team Bahrain Victorious. The 31-year-old collapsed at the finish after the sprint of the first stage on 21 March and had to be resuscitated. It is unclear whether the Italian will be able to continue his career.
Colbrelli would no longer be allowed to race in Italy and would probably no longer be able to compete under his home country's licence. Legally, professional athletes with a defibrillator are prohibited from taking part in competitions in Italy.
This regulation also recently affected the further career of football star Christian Eriksen. The Dane, who collapsed at the 2021 European Championships, was no longer allowed to play for his club Inter Milan due to the legal situation following the use of a defibrillator and cancelled his contract. Eriksen now plays for FC Brentford in England and recently made his first appearance for the Danish national team.
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