Russian swimmer Igor Akhlyustin has tested positive for Methylhexaneamine and received a two-year ban. He is one of five swimmers suspended this week, though we have already each of the positive tests, with the new news being the declaration of the lengths of bans.
His test happened on June 18th at the Russian National Swimming Championships, and his ban will back-date to July 3rd, 2013.
The 24-year old Akhlyustin tested positive in a session where he placed 3rd in the 200 fly in 2:00.19 and also swam an 800 free relay for his club Komi.
Akhlustyn is largely a 200 butterflier, distance freestyler, and IM’er; that time in the 200 fly is a career best for him, and earlier in his career he was as fast as a 15:47 in the long course 1500 free when he was only 19.
He is the third athlete reported by FINA to have tested positive this year for methylhexaneamine. It is a vasoconstrictor that can be incredibly dangerous to training (it is blamed for the death of of two US soldiers in 2012). The theory is that it forces the body’s cardiovascular system to become more efficient in pumping blood because of the more constricted vessels.
Akhlustyn is one of three swimmers who rested positive at the meet,and were provisionally suspended in early July.
In addition, Russia has handed out four other bans this week. Komlev Anton and Mikhail Dovgaluk were each suspended from one year from July 3rd; Anastasia Krapivina was disqualified for 5 months beginning April 30th (meaning that she’s already eligible again); and Victoria Mukhametova was suspended for a year from April 30th, 2013.
Krapivina and Mukhametova both tested positive at the Russia Cup in April where the Russians selected their World Championship team. Krapivina was the Russian Champion in the 800 free at that meet.
