Marcell Jacobs fires back at doping allegations as shocking reports reveal a former teammate’s brother allegedly hired hackers to expose him.
Former Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs finds himself at the center of yet another controversy this time involving hacking, blood data and alleged espionage.
Just three years after his shocking rise to glory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he became the first Italian to win the prestigious event, Jacobs is once again facing scrutiny—not for his speed, but for off-track drama.
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The latest twist? A stunning revelation that Giacomo Tortu, the brother of Jacobs’ former relay teammate Filippo Tortu, allegedly hired a hacker with ties to the mafia and intelligence agencies to dig into Jacobs’ private data.
But Jacobs is not staying silent. “Absolutely not, and I would not,” he said when asked if he had ever used performance-enhancing drugs as per Essentially Sports.
The shocking claims stem from a report revealing that Giacomo Tortu allegedly sought out a Milan-based intelligence firm, Equalize, to uncover incriminating evidence against Jacobs.
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Equalize, led by ex-cop Carmine Gallo—who himself is under investigation for hacking government databases—was reportedly tasked with obtaining Jacobs’ blood test results and even accessing his personal phone conversations with his coach, manager, and nutritionist.
The plot thickens further with the involvement of a so-called “super-hacker,” Gabriele Pegoraro, who was allegedly paid €10,000 to compile a dossier on the sprinter.
Jacobs has responded to the controversy with a mix of frustration and concern in a scenario where his team member, Andrea Caiaffa, shared Jacobs’ thoughts via an Instagram story: “Personally, I believe Filippo Tortu when he says he is not involved in the affair involving his brother Giacomo. Having said that, the fact that someone could have spied on my cell phones saddens and worries me.”
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While Filippo Tortu has denied any knowledge or involvement in his brother’s alleged actions, stating, “I found out about the news through the media. I trust that everything will be clarified quickly, and that my name will not be linked to something I have no part in,” his silence on Giacomo’s actions has raised questions.
Giacomo Tortu himself has not responded to inquiries from Il Fatto Quotidiano, leaving his side of the story a mystery.
For Jacobs, this is yet another chapter in a post-Olympic journey filled with challenges. After his historic 2021 victory, critics questioned how a sprinter who had only broken the 10-second barrier months before could suddenly become an Olympic champion.
Despite the constant scrutiny, Jacobs has continued competing at a high level.
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Since Tokyo, he has secured a World Indoor Championship gold, a European Championship title, and a relay silver at the 2023 World Championships.
However, injuries and burnout forced him to make a drastic change—relocating to Jacksonville, Florida, to train under renowned coach Rana Reider alongside elite sprinters like Trayvon Bromell.
