A total of 43 athletes from eleven countries, competing in 17 sports, were involved in anti-doping proceedings that came to light over the Christmas and New Year period. Six cases involved test evasion, three involved violations of rules requiring athletes to indicate where they will be available for testing, and two cases involved participation whilst subject to a ban. 

An Italian distance runner was given a ban equivalent to his 36 years of age, meaning he will not be able to compete until 2058 when he will be 72. Alessandro Braconi was sanctioned with a 12 year ban in September for use/attempted use and trafficking/attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance. In May, his Strava profile indicated that he had competed in the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon and in November, another 12 years were added to his sanction.

The reasons behind the third 12 year extension are not known. However, Braconi will have had to explain his actions to the Italian authorities, as intentional doping is a criminal offence in Italy.

A 48 year old US cyclist attempted to explain his adverse analytical finding (AAF – or ‘positive test’) for six prohibited substances by claiming that he wasn’t interested in competing. “I’m not the one who has to think about those things [referring to anti-doping rules]”, he told a Tribunal. “That is USADA’s [US Anti-Doping Agency] problem, not mine. I don’t care to compete, I do cycling for recreation – not for competition.”

Despite his apparent lack of interest in competition, Nolsen Ruiz-Gutierrez violated a provisional suspension imposed on 6 April 2022 by competing. As such, his four year ban will run until 22 December 2026.

Other cases involved a two year ban issued to an Indian Bridge player; a Kabaddi player sanctioned with a four year ban for evading a test; a French Footballer successful in reducing a one year ban for cannabis use to three months; and a Russian Skateboarder sanctioned for competing while banned. 

In May, Max Kruglov was sanctioned with a four year ban for evading a test. Kruglov had “consumed a particular substance” not long before a doping test, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA)’s former Deputy Director General Margarita Pakhnotskaya told State news agency TASS. It is understood that after finding out that he would have to undergo an out of competition test, he became afraid that traces of that substance would be discovered in his sample and refused the test. 

Pakhnotskaya told TASS that Kruglov’s ignorance of anti-doping rules had let him down, as the substance concerned was only prohibited in-competition. A one year extension has been added to his ban for competing while banned, meaning he will not be able to compete until 7 February next year.

Please continue to send any cases we may have missed or suggestions through to the editor by clicking here. Also, if you’re an athlete, national anti-doping organisation (NADO) or other Results Management Authority and you’d like us to cover a case that you’re involved with, please get in touch! Also – a reminder. The SII Anti-Doping Monitor only features confirmed AAFs (‘positive tests’) or confirmed anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs).

Decision links

Abhijeet Gurav, Sachin Betkar, Kiran Devidas Sanas, Ayush, Kritika Jamwal, Gurmeet Singh, Arif Ali, Ashish Kumar, Avneesh Kumar Prithvi Pal, Arvind Vaidya, Ankit Beniwal, Amit Jangir, Harendra Kumar, Mamta Devi, Jaskaran Singh, Atul Kumar (NADA India ADDP sanction List);

Aditi Rajesh Bugad, Deepak Poonia (NADA India ADDP appeal List);

Maxim Kruglov (RUSADA Statement, original Statement & Background);

Taukan Gekkiev (RUSADA Statement, original Statement);

Denis Kungurtsev (RUSADA Statement);

Irdineev Erdem (RUSADA Statement);

Oksana Korobchuk (RUSADA Statement, original Statement);

Ismaël Haddou (Conseil d’Etat Decision);

Pavel Konoshevich (RUSADA Statement);

Ilya Golubochkin (RUSADA Statement); 

Alexander Asanov (RUSADA Statement, RusAF Statement);

Yegor Yermilov (RUSADA Statement);

Denis Obertyshev (RusAF Statement);

Varsha Devi, Ankit Malik, Prashant Choudhary, Tanjua, Alessandro Braconi, Lorenzo Milani, Shieca Cherotich Kimngetich, Sally Korir Jepkemei, Vasile Bogdan, Hangeldi Atageldiyev, Tadesse Getahon (AIU sanction List);

Noslen Ruiz-Gutierrez (USADA Statement, final Decision); 

Felipe Hernández (ITIA Statement);

Jasur Mirzamukhamedov (ONE Championship Statement)