Related case:
IAAF 2018 IAAF vs Kseniya Savina
May 6, 2019
Mr Aleksei Savin is the Husband and Coach of the Russian Athlete Kseniya Savina.
In June 2018 the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) reported anti-doping rule violation against the Russian Athlete Kseniya Savina after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO). After notification the Athlete filed a statement in her defence.
The Athlete stated that her Husband and Coach, Aleksei Savin had been prescribed EPO to treat chronic renal failure and their housekeeper must have mixed up his medication with hers (taken for back pain) whilst the housekeeper was laying the table for lunch at their apartment in Ifrane, Morocco.
In support of her statement the Athlete provided the IAAF with a copy of her Husband/Coach's medical records from the Clinic in Simferopol, Crimea establishing a diagnosis of renal failure for a patient, Alexei Mikhailovich Savin.
At the request of the IAAF the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) investigated the authenticity of the filed medical records. Here the Clinic in question reported that the Clinic did not issue documents such as the one provided by the Athlete and there was no evidence of the prescribed medical treatment of the Husband/Coach in the Clinic. The Clinic confirmed to RUSADA that the medical records provided by the Athlete to the IAAF were forged.
Consequently the IAAF reported in April 2019 two anti-doping rule violations against the Coach:
- Tampering by providing fraudulent information to the IAAF via the Athlete;
- Complicity with the Athlete in her committing a Tampering violation under the ADR.
Hereafter the Coach failed to respond to the IAAF communication. Without the Coach’s response to the charges the IAAF’s Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) deems that he has admitted the Anti-Doping Rule violations, waived his right to be heard and accepted the imposed sanction.
Therefore the IAAF decides on 6 May 2019 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Coach starting on the date of the decision.
