Anti-doping news

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

WF reports that the sample of  Ms.  Sona POGHOSYAN (ARM) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for  GHRP-2 (AA1-3) (S.2 Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Oleksandr PIELIESHENKO (UKR) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Chlorthalidone (S.5 Diuretics and other Masking Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Oleksandr PIELIESHENKO (UKR) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Chlorthalidone (S.5 Diuretics and other Masking Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is

IWF oversees anti-doping education seminars in suspended Member Federations

Lausanne; 16 February 2018: The latest anti-doping education seminar has concluded in Azerbaijan as the IWF continues to oversee anti-doping education seminars in its nine suspended Member Federations (MFs) and support them bring about cultural change. MFs must organise anti-doping seminars at least every four months, as part of the IWF’s extensive series of criteria that they are obliged to fulfil. Since December 2017, anti-doping seminars have been held in Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Moldova Turkey and Ukraine. The purpose of the seminars is to educate athletes, coaches and officials on the dangers of doping and provide more information on IWF anti-doping policy, anti-doping rule violations, prohibited substances, ADAMs and whereabouts information, WADA and NADOs. Representatives from National Anti-Doping Agencies and medical experts make presentations to provide the very-latest information and scientific data. The seminars and their content is strictly overseen by the IWF and MFs must provide the IWF with detailed reports following the seminars. The IWF Monitoring Group, consisting of independent anti-doping experts, examines and evaluates all the presentations and reports of the MFs to ensure the seminars are effective as possible. IWF President Tamas Ajan said: “Anti-doping education is vital in helping change cultures, particularly in high-risk countries where doping is more prevalent. We of course need to ensure we have robust anti-doping measures in place to protect clean athletes and catch athletes who cheat. But, it is equally important to have extensive education programmes in place to encourage cultural change and prevent the minority of athletes who cheat from cheating in the first place. “When we suspended the nine MFs we sent out the strongest possible message about how committed we are to protecting clean athletes. We also made it clear that we would work with these countries to make real and lasting change and put in the necessary anti-doping measures to address their doping issues. These anti-doping seminars are effective way of doing that. But there is a lot more that needs to be done and a lot of criteria they need to fulfil before they can fulfil their obligation to ensure clean sport. The IWF, through the Monitoring Group, will continue to work with them to achieve

IWF sanction against Ilya Ilyin maximum allowed under World Anti-Doping Code

The Hearing Panel of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) concluded disciplinary proceedings against Ilya Ilyin and applied the greatest possible sanction against the athlete that is permitted (two years of ineligibility) under the World Anti-Doping Code. Although the Athlete committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations both at the Beijing and the London Olympic Games, IWF had no other choice but to consider the two violations as one according to the applicable rules. Under the IWF Anti-Doping Policies based on the World Anti-Doping Code applicable at the time of the Beijing and London Olympic Games which state “an anti-doping rule violation will only be considered a second violation if the anti-doping organization can establish that the athlete or other Person committed the second anti- doping rule violation after the athlete or other Person received notice pursuant to Article 7, or after the anti-doping organization made reasonable efforts to give notice of the first anti-doping rule violation. If the anti-doping organization cannot establish this, the violations shall be considered together as one single first violation, and the sanction imposed shall be based on the violation that carries the more severe sanction.” (World Anti-Doping Code. Article 10.7.4.1). Since the athlete had not been notified of the first violation (Beijing 2008) before committing the second (London 2012) the violation committed in London cannot be treated as a second violation. The IWF is keen to impose sanctions which correspond to the damage brought to its sport, and is reaching out to WADA and the IOC to discuss possibilities for the future to consider relevant rules to be changed and deal with the result of reanalysis programs similar to those of Beijing and London in a different manner. The IWF is committed to protecting clean athletes and is implementing the most robust anti-doping measures to address the incidence of doping. However, Ilya Ilyin remains ineligible to compete according to the “Tbilisi Decision”, until the suspension of the Kazakh Weightlifting Federation comes to end on 19 October

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

As of 23 January, the samples of 4 (four) athletes have returned an Adverse Analytical Finding, out of the 315 athletes participating at the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA. The IWF conducted 212 tests including 141 urine and 43 blood, representing 67% of the total number of athletes. These figures show a very significant improvement compared to the 2015 IWF World Championships Houston, USA where the IWF conducted 236 tests including 172 urine and 64 blood (40% of the total number of athletes). The test distribution plan of the Event was carefully established by the IWF Anti-Doping Commission, which appointed USADA as the Sample Collection Authority. All analyses were conducted by the independent WADA-accredited Laboratories of Montreal and Los Angeles  using the most sophisticated, internationally-recognised detection methods available. These 4 (four) Adverse Analytical Findings are still 4 (four) too many. They do demonstrate, however, that the IWF’s comprehensive approach to eliminating doping is working well. The evident progress since Houston in 2015 will serve as further motivation to the IWF to continue implementing the toughest anti-doping programme of any international sports federation. The IWF is committed to protecting clean athletes and doing everything it can to address the incidence of doping in sport. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Dimitris MINASIDIS (CYP) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for GW501516 (S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulators/ Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor δ (PPARδ) agonists). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Aurimas DIDZBALIS (LTU) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator S-22 (S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Dumitru CAPTARI (ROU) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Ephedrine (S5 Diuretics and Masking Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Ms. Romela BEGAJ (ALB) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Stanozolol (S1.1 Anabolic Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is