The case involves Denis Strelkov, a Russian race walker, who was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after testing positive for recombinant erythropoietin (r-EPO), a prohibited substance under the 2015 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) brought the case directly to CAS due to the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), which would typically handle such matters. Strelkov’s urine samples, collected during an out-of-competition test on June 2, 2015, in Saransk, Russia, tested positive for r-EPO in both the A and B samples. The IAAF notified Strelkov of the adverse finding on July 10, 2015, and he initially accepted a provisional suspension but later requested B sample analysis, which confirmed the presence of r-EPO.
The CAS panel applied the IAAF’s anti-doping rules, which establish strict liability for athletes regarding prohibited substances in their systems. Since r-EPO has no quantitative threshold, any detectable amount constitutes a violation. Strelkov failed to prove the violation was unintentional or provide any explanation for the presence of r-EPO, leading the panel to impose a four-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a first intentional violation. The decision highlights the systemic nature of doping among Russian race walkers, as evidenced by similar violations by other athletes from the same training center and the obstructive behavior during testing. The panel also noted the lack of cooperation from Strelkov and ARAF, which precluded any possibility of reducing the sanction through substantial assistance in uncovering other violations.
Strelkov’s competitive results from June 2, 2015, to the start of his provisional suspension on July 15, 2015, were disqualified, including forfeiture of titles, medals, and prize money. The case underscores the strict enforcement of anti-doping regulations and the procedural pathways available when national federations are unable to fulfill their adjudicatory roles. The panel’s ruling reaffirms the zero-tolerance approach to doping in international athletics, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fairness and integrity in sports. The decision was based on written submissions, as Strelkov opted not to participate in the hearing or provide any defense, leaving the IAAF’s claims uncontested. The CAS upheld the IAAF’s position, concluding that the evidence substantiated the allegations and warranted the imposed sanctions.