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10 June 2025
The ITA reports that the athlete Feruza Sadikova has agreed¹ to the consequences imposed for her anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
The circumstances of the ADRV arise from an out-of-competition testing mission led by the ITA on 27 November 2024. The athlete refused to provide a sample without compelling justifications. As per Article 2.3 of the WT anti-doping rules evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection without compelling justification amounts to an ADRV.
The athlete did not challenge her ADRV and agreed with the consequences proposed by the ITA. Due to her early admission, the athlete was entitled to a one-year reduction of the otherwise four-year period of ineligibility usually imposed for an ADRV under Article 2.3 as set forth in article 10.8.1 of the WT anti-doping rules.² Accordingly, the case was resolved via an acceptance of consequences.
The athlete’s period of Ineligibility is from 3 May 2025 until 2 May 2028. In addition, all her competitive results from 27 November 2024 onwards are disqualified.
Parties with a right of appeal may challenge the decisions before the appeal division of CAS in accordance with article 13.3.2 of the WT ADR.
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 and 8.3.3 of the WT 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 WT/ITA decision. The athlete’s National Anti-Doping Organisation and the World Anti-Doping Agency have the right to appeal the agreement on consequences before the competent appeal body.
² Article 10.8.1 of the WT 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 WT/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.
