Belarusian swimmer Arseniy Gvozdeu (sometimes anglicised Arsenii Hvazdeu or Hvazdzeu) has been given a four-year doping suspension by the National Andti-Doping Agency of Belarus after a positive doping control test earlier this year.
The 20-year old swimmer was subjected to an out-of-competition test on February 19th for the banned substance Methandienone, which is classed by FINA as an Exogenous Anabolic Anrogenic Steroid.
The drug has no known therapeutic applications, but has long been used by bodybuilders and professional weightlifters for performance enhancement. That includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, who admitted to long-term usage of the substance before it was banned. The substance has been linked to increase risks of heart problems.
Gvozdeu was a rather low-level competitor in domestic competitions. Competing at the Belarusian Open Championships in April, which came after his positive test, Hvozdeu placed 40th in the 50 free (25.08), 36th in the 100 free (55.68), and 21st in the 200 free (2:10.09) in long course meters. That makes the suspension more noteworthy for its precedent than for elimination of an elite international athlete.
In 2013, when he was 18, Gvozdeu did, however, show some promise. That year, he swam 53.87 in the 100 free in short course meters to place 13th at the Belarusia Championships.
The suspension is dated to April 28th, 2015 when he received his provisional suspension. The results from the Belarus Championships referenced above will be negated.
[Though I’m not from Belarus] I can attest to the fact that there seems to be a massive amount of young people these days using steroids for aesthetic purposes. I’m guessing that’s what’s happened here.
Massive amount of old people also using stuff like this . Remember Sylvester Stallone was charged in Sydney for having massive amounts of Human Growth Hormone in his private plane on the Tarmac on route to Asia for filming .
Yes he looked buff in Rocky 42 or whatever , but that is why . Thére are middle aged women at Crossfit into ‘enhancers ‘ .