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19 August 2025
The ITA reports that Kurash athlete Erkin Kozokov has agreed¹ to the consequences for his anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
Erkin Kozokov provided a sample under the testing authority of the IKA during an unannounced in-competition doping control performed on 17 December 2024 during the WSP (World Series Pro) Finals, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which yielded an adverse analytical finding² (AAF) for meldonium.
Meldonium is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a non-specified substance. Meldonium may enhance sports performance by improving endurance and recovery through increased oxygen uptake and energy metabolism.
The athlete did not challenge the ADRV and agreed with the consequences proposed by the ITA. Accordingly, the case was resolved via an acceptance of consequences.
When notified of the case, the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.
Due to his early admission of the anti-doping rule violation, the athlete was entitled to a one-year reduction of the otherwise four-year period of ineligibility usually imposed for an ADRV for the presence of the prohibited substance as set forth in article 10.8.1 of the IKA anti-doping rules.³
The athlete’s period of ineligibility is from 30 January 2025 until 29 January 2028. In addition, all the athlete’s individual competitive results from 17 December 2024 to the start of the period of ineligibility are disqualified.
The decision may be challenged before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the parties with a right of appeal in accordance with Article 13.2.3 of the IKA anti-doping rules.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
¹ Athletes have the right to choose not to have their case referred to a hearing panel. In these instances, the anti-doping organisation will assess the athlete’s case file and establish the applicable consequences pursuant to the anti-doping rules and the athlete will have the right to accept the proposed consequences. If the athlete refuses the proposed consequences, the case is transferred to a hearing panel. This resolution mechanism is provided for in articles 8.3.1 of the IKA anti-doping rules and 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code and is commonly referred to as an agreement on consequences and is deemed an IKA/ITA decision.
² A report from a WADA-accredited laboratory that, consistent with the International Standard for Laboratories, establishes in a sample the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers or evidence of the use of a prohibited method.
³ Article 10.8.1 of the IKA ADR (and World Anti-Doping Code) provides for a one-year reduction for certain ADRVs based on early admission and acceptance of sanction. This applies where an athlete after being notified by IKA/ITA of a potential ADRV that carries an asserted period of Ineligibility of four (4) or more years, admits the violation and accepts the asserted period of Ineligibility no later than twenty (20) days after receiving notice of an ADRV charge. Where the athlete receives the one-year reduction under Article 10.8.1, no further reduction in the period of Ineligibility is allowed.
