This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Two Russian Boxers Compete Despite Doping Bans ¶
Published on July 17, 2019, a Reuters investigation revealed that two Russian boxers, Islam Dashaev and Alena Tokarchuk, competed in official tournaments despite serving doping suspensions.
According to competition records, Dashaev, who received a four-year suspension in 2017 for doping violations, boxed in the 81 kg category at a national competition held in Anapa, Russia, in August 2018. He won one bout and lost another.
Tokarchuk, who also received a doping ban, participated in a regional competition, according to Tatyana Kiriyenko, a deputy head of the Russian Boxing Federation.
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) said it had been unaware of the cases and would investigate after being asked about them by Reuters.
"We do not know the reasons why these suspended athletes took part in competitions that were held under the Russian Boxing Federation's jurisdiction and with its support," RUSADA Deputy Director General Margarita Pakhnotskaya said in a statement to Reuters.
"The fact such athletes participated in competitions is alarming," she added.
Valery Karadutov, an official from the Russian Boxing Federation, said he had not been aware of Dashaev's ban and that the federation had not been notified of the bans in a timely manner.
"This information was not communicated to me and to the chief judge," Karadutov said. "There is no way for us to follow this."
He suggested that the federation publish a list of banned boxers on its website "in big letters" to draw officials' attention.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it would follow up with RUSADA and the relevant international federations to ensure they were aware of the Reuters findings and that the allegations were being dealt with appropriately.
