Related case:
CAS 2016_A_4803 Ekaterina Gnidenko vs IOC & UCI | Maria Abakumova vs IOC | Tatyana Lebedeva vs IOC & WADA
July 25, 2018
Ms. Ekaterina Gnidenko is a Russian Athlete competing in the Cycling Track Keirin Event and the Track Sprint Event at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In 2016, the IOC decided to perform further analyses on certain samples collected before and during the 2012 Olympic Games. These additional analyses were performed with analytical methods which were not available in 2012.
In May 2016 the International Olympic Committee reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after her 2012 A and B samples (collected in Belarus in July 2012) tested positive for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormthyltestosterone (turinabol). After notification the Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the IOC Disciplinary Commission.
The Athlete alleges that she never used intentionally any prohibited substances and/or methods and always strictly followed her doctor’s recommendations. Supported by an expert witness the Athlete disputed the irregulatities with the opening and splitting of her samples and the competence and capability of the laboratory.
The Commission dismissed the arguments of the Athlete and her expert witness and finds that the analytical method and results of the laboratory are valid and concludes that the Athlete has committed an anti-doping violation with the intention to enhance her sport performance.
The Commission notes that the presence of metabolites of this particular substance has been established in a remarkably high number of cases, which resulted from the re-analysis of the samples collected in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. This constitutes an indication that this substance has been in widespread use by athletes.
Therefore the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides on 5 September that the Athlete Ekaterina Gnidenko:
1.) is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012 (presence and/or use, of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
2.) is disqualified from the events in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012, namely, the Cycling Track Keirin Event in which she ranked 8th and the Cycling Track Sprint Event in which she ranked 18th, and
3.) has the diploma obtained in the Cycling Track Keirin Event withdrawn and is ordered to return same.
4.) The UCI is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
5.) The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
6.) The Russian Olympic Committee shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the diploma awarded in connection with the Cycling Track Keirin Event to the Athlete.
7.) This decision enters into force immediately.
