Fitness.ee - Suspension of the Russian Powerlifting Federation

GALERII - GALLERY - ГАЛЕРЕЯ

NEWS

Suspension of the Russian Powerlifting Federation

Detlev Albrings on behalf of the IPF Executive Committee

Members of the IPF and others in the sporting world will be aware that over the last three years the IPF has instituted various disciplinary and rehabilitatory actions with nations with unacceptable drug test result from international competition.

Such actions have included sanctions against the Russian Powerlifting Federation (RPF). As from mid 2007 the RPF was in the position that it was serving out an extended suspended sentence, running through to the end of 2008. The terms of that suspended sentence included the provision that even one international positive drug test would trigger a full suspension.

With that sentence hanging over the heads of the Russian Federation, some encouraging developments were observed in the IPF. A domestic Out-of-Competition testing programme was reported, with mostly negative results and positives acted on by suspension. In Russia’s return to World Championships, in Austria last October and also at the World Championships Sub-Juniors and Juniors 2008 Russian many athletes were tested, with all results negative. The RPF has provided Whereabouts details for many of its international athletes in WADA-ADAMS and has co-operated with IPF Out-of-Competition testing in Russia.
However unfortunately an August 2008 IPF Out-of-Competition test on a Russian athlete has returned a positive result for anabolic. A 2 year individual suspension has been imposed on that athlete.

The IPF Executive has considered all aspects of the recent situation with the RPF and has determined that the positive test result, at a time of suspended sentence for the RPF, must be met with a further suspension. However the IPF has taken into account the other steps forward by the RPF in 2007/2008 and has tailored the federation penalty to reflect the circumstances of this case.

Accordingly, the Open female and male Powerlifting team has been suspended from international and regional competition. That means the Open female and male team of the RPF cannot take part at the Men’s and Women’s World Championships 2008 in Canada, the Men’s and Women’s European Powerlifting Championships 2009 in Finland and at the World Games 2009 in Chinese Taipei. Furthermore no athlete of the Open female and male Powerlifting team can take part at the World Bench Press Championships 2009 in Luxembourg.

As well, the IPF will in 2008 and 2009 continue to conduct Out-of-Competition testing in Russia, which must be paid by the RPF, as well as requiring the RPF to conduct its own national Out-of-Competition testing programme.
According our IPF Anti-Doping rules 12.5 if 4 or more athletes of the Russian Powerlifting Federation will have a positive drug test result in any 12 months period at any international championship, regional championship or OCT test, the IPF Executive Committee will decide about an appropriate suspension.

The IPF continues to attempt to be constructive in using sanctioning, monitoring and direct testing as methods in assisting federations in solving any doping problems in their nation. However the IPF reserves the right to employ extended suspension or even expulsion with national federations with recurring doping problems. Not only Russia, but also other national federations are now being examined by the IPF in terms of their doping records and we will continue to take all necessary measures to eradicate drugs in Powerlifting.