Three Russian rowers were banned for two years for breaching
anti-doping decision of FISA, the rowing world governing body
announced in Munich on Wednesday at the world rowing
championships.
A FISA doping hearing panel decided the ban Tuesday on the three
Russian rowers Vladimir Varfolomeev, Denis Moiseev and Svetlana
Fedorova. The reason was they had committed violations of the
Anti-Doping provisions of the FISA rules of racing.
FISA executive director Matt Smith confirmed on Wednesday the
decision of banning three Russian rowers for two years starting
from August 28, 2007.
"No prohibited substance found in the three Russian rowers, but
they violated anti-doping code by using a prohibited method during
competition," said Smith.
"So they are excluded from the championships and the boats they
are in will be removed from the championships in order not to
affect Olympic qualification," added Smith.
According to Smith, the problem for Russians is the intravenous
infusion without legitimate medical treatment. Russian rowers were
in breach of article 2.2 of these anti-doping bye-laws in FISA for
committing the use of a prohibited method.
The article 2.2 says "the success or failure of the use of a
prohibited substance or prohibited method is not material. It is
sufficient that the prohibited substance or prohibited method was
used or attempted to be used for an anti-doping rule violation to
be committed".
Smith hinted that the test on Russian rowers is out of suspicion
first. If a systematic anti-doping violation is found in the
Russian team, the FISA will take some actions against the Russian
Rowing Federation as Smith suggested.
An in-competition test on a Russian female rower last year in
Bulgaria led to FISA's suspicion on Russians. The test on an
unnamed Russian rower turned out different results out of three
consecutive trials just within two days, so FISA doubted a kind of
crack doping method was likely involved there.
The sample from that rower was sent to Paris laboratory for
further analysis, but the laboratory closed down on August and the
rower was eligible to compete and won on September last year.
FISA does not expect such occurrence for a second time, so it
gives a close eye to Russia and it gets proved to be reasonable.
"Our evidence is correct and we will look closely at Russians,"
said Smith.
"We need to improve our test in more efficient way and more
out-of-competition and in-competition tests are needed.
"There are two hearing panels in FISA. There is a long
intermission between the two panels to give rower chances to
present their full stories."
The first hearing penal for Russians was on last Friday, and the
second was on Tuesday.
The FISA investigation is to continue and further action will be
taken on the incident.
As a result of these decisions, the Russian Lightweight Men's
Double Sculls (LM2x) and the Russian Women's Eight (W8+) will no
longer take part in the World Rowing Championships running until
the weekend.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)