The ITA asserts anti-doping rule violations against 3 Russian canoeists based on data retrieved from Moscow anti-doping laboratory

The ITA reports that it has asserted ADRVs against athletes Larisa Arakcheeva, Natalya Lobova and Vitaliy Yurchenko under Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) of the ICF Anti-Doping Rules (ICF ADR).

The cases are based on investigations conducted by WADA’s Intelligence & Investigations Department (WADA I&I) and by Prof Richard McLaren into allegations of systemic doping practices in Russian sport as well as Moscow Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) data retrieved by WADA I&I over time. The evidence was provided by WADA I&I to the ICF in 2021 and 2022 for assessment. In particular, these investigations uncovered LIMS data indicative of the presence of banned steroids in samples provided by the athletes in 2013 and 2014.

Following the delegation of the ICF anti-doping program to the ITA, these matters were handed over to the ITA for further investigation and prosecution.

The athletes have been informed of the cases and have been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter. Given that the cases are underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.