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15 September 2025
In February 2025, the ITA asserted an ADRV against Bilyal Makhov under Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules (UWW ADR).
The assertion was based on investigations conducted by WADA’s Intelligence and Investigation Department (WADA I&I) and by Professor Richard McLaren into allegations of systemic doping practices in Russian sport between the years 2011 and 2015 as well as the Moscow Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) data retrieved by WADA I&I over time. The evidence was provided by WADA I&I to the ITA for further assessment. In particular, these investigations uncovered LIMS data indicative of the presence of the banned substances epitrenbolone, metenolone, oxandrolone and chorionic gonadotrophin in a sample provided by the athlete in 2015.
Epitrenbolone, metenolone and oxandrolone are anabolic steroids commonly used by athletes due to their muscle-building and performance-enhancing effects. Chorionic gonadotrophin, in turn, stimulates the production of testosterone and is therefore used by athletes to enhance muscle strength. These substances have been on the WADA Prohibited list every year since 2015 and are prohibited at all times.
The sanction was issued by the ITA on behalf of UWW in accordance with article 8.3.3 of the UWW ADR (and equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code).¹ Because the athlete was sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four years by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency for another anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for the presence of human growth hormone in the sample collected from him in January 2020, no additional period of ineligibility could have been imposed for the ADRV committed in 2015. Therefore, the athlete was sanctioned with the disqualification of his individual results from 10 January 2015 until 27 January 2020.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
¹ When an athlete does not challenge the assertion of an ADRV and does not request a hearing, anti-doping organisations have the possibility to issue a written decision sanctioning the athlete and imposing the applicable consequences without having to refer the case to a hearing panel. This is provided in articles 8.3.2 and 8.3.3 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules and article 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
