2023/ADD/59 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) v. Mr. Armen Alekyan
In 2016, Professor Richard McLaren issued two reports about systemic doping in Russia. These reports identified a significant number of Russian athletes who were involved in, or benefitted from, the doping schemes and practices that he uncovered.
Hereafter in January 2019 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recovered the internal database of the Moscow Laboratory (LIMS). Following investigation of allegations of organized doping practices, and in particular of the LIMS, WADA provided international federations with investigation reports on the athletes implicated in these organized doping practices.
As a result in June 2022 the International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Armen Alekyan for the use of the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone), Oxandrolone and Methylhexaneamine in June and October 2012.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. Ultimately in May 2023 the case was referred to the CAS Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) for a Sole Arbitrator first instance procedure.
At first the Athlete admitted the violation and accepted the consequences. However in July 2022 he retracted his admission and denied the violations.
In his submission the Athlete rejected the charges and requested for annulment of the case. Further he disputed the reliability of the filed evidence in this case provided by WADA, Professor McLaren and Dr Rodchenkov.
In view of the evidence the Sole Arbitrator deems that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation and that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case. The Arbitrator establishes that the Athlete only denied the charges and failed to file any statement or evidence in his defence.
Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 5 October 2023 that:
1.) The request for arbitration filed on 10 May 2023 by the International Weightlifting Federation is partially upheld.
2.) Mr Armen Alekyan is found to have committed anti-doping rule violations under Article 2.2 of the 2012 IWF ADP.
3.) Mr Armen Alekyan is sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four (4) years starting on the date of this Award. Any period of provisional suspension effectively served by Mr Armen Alekyan before the date of this Award shall be credited against the total period of ineligibility to be served.
4.) All competitive results obtained by Mr Armen Alekyan from and including 21 June 2012 until 20 June 2016 be disqualified, with all resulting consequences (including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes).
5.) (…).
6.) (…).
7.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
