The All-Russian Swimming Federation (WWF) has disqualified swimmer Olesya Moiseeva from competition for 4 years after a positive doping test. The official start date of the suspension is April 12th, 2019.
Specifically, she was penalized under Section 2.1 of the All-Russia Anti-Doping Rules (which can be seen, in English, here).
- 2.1. Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample
Neither RUSADA nor the WWF named the specific substance for which Moiseeva tested positive.
The teenage swimmer, who was born in 2001, swam at the Russian National Championships, where she finished 28th in the 400 free (4:30.35), 15th in the 800 free (9:18.70); and 21st in the 1500 free (18:03.80). She finished in the top 8 in the 800 free at last year’s Russian Junior Championships.
Russia’s anti-doping program is under constant scrutiny; the country was barred from competition at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, and then failed to meet WADA-set deadlines to turn over data related to their anti-doping program. She is one of 5 Russian swimmers that RUSADA lists as currently under sanction, along with:
- Kseniya Moskvina, who in 2012 was given a 6 year suspension for her 2nd failed test (which was extended to 7 years);
- Igor Stolyarsky, who was suspended in November for 2 years for a positive test for Methylhexaneamine;
- Valeriya Babeshko, a para-swimmer in class S5, who was given a 2 year ban beginning in July of 2017; and
- Yana Martynova, who was given a 4-year ban in July of 2015 and has been a public critic of anti-doping agencies and their treatment of Russian athletes.
It will be interesting if Olivier Poirier-Leroy instead of his obvious articles run some research on psychology of athletes who consciously taking forbidden drugs. Which group has more chances to get into trouble in this regard. Is it any difference in cheating by gender and if it is so then why?
For example, in accordance with this article 4 of 5 swimmers who are under suspension are females. Also this girl after taking forbidden drugs (or whatever she did) was only 28th 15th, 21st in what she swam. So what was the reason?
Sad thing is, no one is really shocked by this (given the lack of comments). Banned from the Olympics, teenagers getting caught doping, medals stripped, just another day in Russia.
Shocker…
My guess is that this is more a recreational substance offence rather than ped
Yeah her times wouldn’t indicate that she’s using
Anything performance enhancing
Clearly, Russia is now serious about doping enforcement. Perhaps a new honor higher than the FINA Order can be bestowed upon Vladimir Putin in celebration of Russia’s obvious commitment to clean sport.
I’m not saying that one suspension should absolve Russia of all prior crimes. But, steps in the right direction can be credited as steps.
Feels a little disingenuous to declare a lack of positive tests as ‘evidence of doping’ and simultaneously declare positive tests ‘evidence of a cover-up.’
well said Braden.
Really concerning.
Hmmmmmm
How many other Russian teenagers have they not caught yet I wonder