Related case:
CAS 2016_A_4480 IAAF vs ARAF & Vladimir Kazarin
April 4, 2017
Mr Artyom Denmukhametov is a Russian Athletics 400m runner whereas Mr Vladimir Kazarin (the Trainer) is a Russian athletics coach, training short, middle and long-distance runners.
On 4 April 2017 the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to impose a lifetime period of ineligibility on the coach Vladimir Kazari for Possession, Trafficking, and of Administration of multiple Prohibited Substances under the IAAF Rules with aggravating circumstances.
In January 2017 a German TV channel broadcasted a documentary in which the Athlete was seen to train with Kazarin. Hereafter the Athlete continued to attend several training camps where he was coached by the banned coach.
Thereupon in June 2019 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of the IAAF reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for his prohibited association with Kazarin.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Athlete admitted that he did train with the coach after his lifetime disqualification and believed that the coach could train him unofficially. He challenged only the sanctions to be imposed upon him and asserted that at no point he was adequately warned about the Prohibited Association.
Following assessment of the evidence and the parties' submissions the Arbitrator determines that:
- The Athlete was indeed not duly notified in writing in Russia about prohibited association with Athlete Support Persons banned for an anti-doping rule violation.
- The Athlete was notified about prohibited association by the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF), not by an Anti-Doping Organization.
- The Athlete provided statements that were expected from him because he was intimidated by the Russian athletics authorities and by the coach Kazarin.
- Although the word 'disqualification' was used as an inapt in the written warning it refers in practice to ineligibility.
Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 21 October 2019 that:
- the requirements in Article 2.10.2 of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules for the application of Article 2.10 have not been met;
- the Notice of Charge with respect to an alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.10 of the Rules which was sent to Artyom Denmukhametov is invalid;
- Artyom Denmukhametow had not committed the alleged Violation;
- No Order as to costs.
