The case involves a 2017 arbitration decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding doping violations by Russian athletics coach Vladimir Kazarin. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) filed the case directly with CAS under IAAF Rule 38.19, which allows anti-doping violations to be adjudicated without a prior hearing if all parties consent. The case followed CAS appeal arbitration procedures to expedite the process while ensuring alignment with standard outcomes. The 2016 IAAF Competition Rules governed the proceedings.
The evidence against Kazarin included testimonies and covert recordings from Russian athlete Yulia Stepanova, who documented conversations revealing his involvement in doping practices. These recordings, later featured in a documentary exposing systemic doping in Russian athletics, showed Kazarin’s role in administering prohibited substances like Oxandrolone, EPO, and Human Growth Hormone. The IAAF charged Kazarin with possession, trafficking, and administration of banned substances under IAAF Rules 32.2(f), (g), and (h). The panel admitted the recordings as reliable evidence under IAAF Rule 33(3), which permits "any reliable means" to establish violations, despite arguments that they were illegally obtained. The panel found the evidence conclusive, demonstrating Kazarin’s guilt.
The sanction imposed considered proportionality, given the severity of Kazarin’s offenses. The panel noted his prolonged involvement in doping, lack of remorse, and role in fostering a doping culture within Russian athletics. His influence over athletes and collaboration with other support personnel aggravated the violations, justifying a lifetime ban. This was deemed proportionate despite being his first offense, reflecting the gravity of his misconduct.
The case underscored the responsibilities of athlete support personnel in anti-doping efforts. The IAAF, as the global governing body, and the All Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF), as the national body, were key parties. Procedurally, the IAAF provisionally suspended Kazarin in 2015 before referring the case to CAS with all parties’ consent. Stepanova’s evidence was pivotal, detailing Kazarin’s systematic doping practices. The panel’s decision emphasized the severe consequences for such violations, reinforcing the importance of deterring misconduct in sports.
Kazarin contested the evidence, challenging the reliability of translated transcripts and Stepanova’s credibility, suggesting her motives were financial. The panel appointed an independent translator to verify disputed texts, ultimately upholding the evidence’s validity. The IAAF maintained that the evidence overwhelmingly supported their claims, while Kazarin’s defense, including claims that conversations were humorous or unrelated to doping, was dismissed due to inconsistencies.
The panel applied the 2014 IAAF Rules substantively, aligning with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC). The burden of proof required the IAAF to establish violations to the standard of being "comfortably satisfied," which they met. The panel found Kazarin guilty of possession, trafficking, and administration of prohibited substances, citing his prolonged and systematic involvement. The lifetime ban reflected the panel’s stance on egregious violations, particularly by influential figures like Kazarin, who undermined sports integrity. The decision highlighted the importance of credible evidence and procedural fairness in anti-doping adjudication, setting a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.