Two reports commissioned by WADA, published by Prof Richard McLaren on 18.07.2016 and 09.12.2016, showed detailed evidences of organised manipulation of some Russian samples collected during the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. The reports describe how urine bottles were opened and urine was switched with clean modified urine coming from a “biobank”, and how urine density had to be adjusted to match that recorded on the doping control form (if different at the time of collection) by adding salt to the sample.
As a result of the McLaren Reports the IOC Oswald Commission started investigations in order to establish the possible liability of individual athletes and to issue any sanctions so that decisions could be taken as far in advance of the 2018 Winter Games as possible. In the context of this Commission the IOC decided that all the samples of all Russian athletes who participated in Sochi were re-analysed. The re-analysis establish whether there was doping or whether the samples themselves were manipulated.
Natalia Matveeva is a Russian Athlete competing in the Women's Skiing Event at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The IOC Disciplinary Commission has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete and considered the facts and arguments submitted by the Parties.
Therefore, pending the issue of a motivated decision, the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides on 22 December 2017 that the Athlete Natalia Matveeva:
1.) is found to have committed anti-doping rule violations pursuant to Article 2 of The International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, in 2014;
2.) is disqualified from the event in which she participated upon the occasion of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, in 2014, namely the Women's Sprint 1.5km Freestyle Cross Country Skiing Event, in which she ranked 20th;
3.) The International Ski Federation is requested to modify the results of the abovementioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
4.) Natalia Matveeva is declared ineligible to be accredited in any capacity for all editions of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games subsequent to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
5.) The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
6.) This decision enters into force immediately.
