The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has opened cases against 33 athletes for potential anti-doping rule violations, following an investigation into information that a ‘prohibited method’ had been used in a sports school in the Republic of Chuvashia. The investigation involved interviews with 140 people, and over 60 cases of possible anti-doping rule violations by athletes and athlete personnel were identified, said RUSADA in a statement.

RUSADA has not named the athletes involved. However 18 cases involve athletics (one is understood to be a whereabouts failure); five involve cycling; three involve sambo; two involve biathlon; and boxing, cross-country skiing, gymnastics, wrestling, and deaf sport (athletics) report one case each.

RUSADA’s announcement coincided with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announcing the approval of Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) status for 14 athletes to compete at the European U23 Championships and/or the World University Games. The Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) also recently announced that Pavel Vruchinsky (Павел Вручинский) had been sanctioned with a four year ban after returning an AAF for oxandrolone. The sprinter won the Silver medal in the 100m sprint at the 2018 Russian Cup.