Ms. Svetlana Tzarukaeva is a Russian Athlete competing in the Women’s 63 kg weightlifting event at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In 2016, the IOC decided to perform further analyses on certain samples collected during the 2012 Olympic Games. These additional analyses were performed with analytical methods which were not available in 2012.
In July 2016 and in January 2017 the International Olympic Committee reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after her 2012 A and B samples, collected on 28 and 31 July 2012, tested positive for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).
After notification in July 2016 and in January 2017 the Athlete submitted that she did not accept both test results. She waived her right to be heard and filed a statement in her defence.
In her submissions the Athlete challenged the anti-doping violation on the basis of the validity of the results reported by the laboratory and the use of betamethasone.
De Disciplinary Commission finds that no departure from the ISL occurred and the use of betamethasone, administered by a doctor in the Olympic Village, has no connection with the presence of the substance turinabol in her samples.
The Commission concludes that the Athlete has committed an anti-doping rule violation consistent with the intentional use of a prohibited substance specifically ingested to deliberately improve performance. The fact that the metabolite of a doping substance, which is a traditional doping substance was found, supports this consideration.
The Disciplinary Commission, which has now handled multiple cases arising out of the re-analysis of samples collection on the occasion of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, observes that the presence of the metabolites of this particular substance has been established in a remarkably high number of cases.
This constitutes an indication that said substance has been in widespread use by athletes, who were doping at that time.
Therefore the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides on 15 March 2017 that the Athlete, Svetlana Tzarukaeva:
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 in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
2.) is disqualified from the Women’s 63kg weightlifting event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012;
3.) has the silver medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the Women’s 63kg weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return same.
4.) The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event 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 silver medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the Women’s 63 kg weightlifting event to the Athlete.
7.) This decision enters into force immediately.
