World Athletics 2019 WA vs Artur Karamyan & Dmitry Shlyakhtin

• Mr Artur Karamyan is an Executive Board Member from the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF)
• Mr Dmitry Shlyaktin is the President of RusAF

In August 2018 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of the IAAF (now: World Athletics) has reported an anti-doping rule violation of Tampering against the high jumper Danil Lysenko after the AIU had opened an investigation against the Athlete regarding his Whereabouts Failures. 

With the assistance of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) the AIU discovered that the Athlete had forged medical documents to the AIU. The AIU also concluded that RusAF officials had been involved in the provision of false explanations and forged documents to the AIU in order to explain whereabouts failures by the Athlete.  

As a result in November 2019 the AIU issued charges against Mr Artum Karamyan, Dmitry Shlyakhtin, RusAF and several other RusAF officials for committing multiple anti-doping rule violations: 

• Tampering or Attempted Tampering
• Complicity
• Refusal or failure to report an Anti-Doping Rule Violation
• Refusal or failure to cooperate with investigations.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. Mr Karamyan and Shlyakhtin filed a statement in their defence and they were heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal. 

The AIU contended that both sports offials were involved in the conspiracy to fabricate expanations and documents for the Whereabouts Failures of the Athlete Danil Lysenko. Also they concerted and co-ordinated attempts by RusAF officials to obstruct the AIU’s efforts to investigate the matter. Both sports offials denied the charges and their involvement in the alleged scheme. 

The Panel concludes that there is overwhelming evidence of Mr Karamyan’s involvement in the fraudulent scheme. The Panel also finds that:

• he failed to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation;
• he deleted documents from his computer to prevent them being accessed;
• he lied to the AIU in claiming he had not been involved in the conspiracy.

Considering the evidence against Mr. Shlyakhtin the Panel concludes that the charges are proved regarding Tampering and Complicity. The Panel establish that he lied to the AIU about his own involvement and failed to co-operate with the AIU investigation. 

Therefore on 8 February 2021 the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal decides that: 

• Mr Karamyan and Mr Shlyakhtin were party to a conspiracy to provide false documents and evidence and in particular:

1. was guilty of Tampering within ADR 2.5
2. was guilty of Complicity within ADR 2,9
3. was guilty of failing to report an Anti-Doping Rule Violation within ADR 5.10.2
4. was guilty of failing to co-operate with the AIU investigation under ADR 5.10.3

• to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on Mr Karamyan and Mr Shlyakhtin starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 November 2019.