Related case:
IAAF 2018 IAAF vs Aleksey Savin
May 6, 2019
In June 2018 the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has reported an 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 the 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 the following Violations against the Athlete:
1.) First Anti-Doping Rule Violation(s):
- Presence of a prohibited substance;
- Use of a prohibited substance.
2.) Second Anti-Doping Rule Violation(s):
- Tampering by providing fraudulent information to the IAAF after notification about the First Anti-Doping Rule Violation;
- Complicity with her Husband/Coach in the commission of his Anti-Doping Rule violation of Tampering for having procured and submitted fraudulent information in the form of fabricated medical records in order to corroborate the Athlete’s explanation for the positive test for EPO.
Hereafter the Athlete failed to respond to the IAAF communication. Without the Athlete’s response to the charges the IAAF’s Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) deems that the Athlete has admitted the First and Second Anti-Doping Rule violations, waived her right to be heard and accepted the imposed sanction, i.e. 4 years for the First violations and 8 years for the Second violations running sequentlially in accordance with the Rules.
Therefore the IAAF decides on 6 May 2019 to impose a 12 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the decision.
