Doping tests and clean bodybuilding in Estonia
A doping test in bodybuilding is not just paperwork after a competition. It decides whether a medal rests on an honest foundation and whether an athlete can step onto the next stage without a shadow over their name. After the 2002 Estonian Cup, a simple truth came to mind again: it is possible to compete clean, too.
Why does a doping test matter in bodybuilding?
When the results of the Estonian Cup held at Ugala in May were finally made public, the news was not pleasant. The sample of Aleksei Zavjalov of Narva, winner of the up to 70kg category and third in the overall standings, came back positive. This was not simply one more name added to the protocol. It touched the trust in the whole sport.
Bodybuilding is a sport where the look is visible, but the work behind it often stays hidden. The audience sees shape, conditioning and muscle mass on stage. It does not see the years of routine, the diet, the hours of sleep, or the choices an athlete makes when no one else is around.
That is exactly why doping control is needed. Not only to punish, but also to protect those who do the work honestly. Arnold Tokko called what happened a step toward cleanliness. That sounds harsh, but the thought is right: every test makes the line a little clearer.
Doping tests and the slow response
There was one more big problem here. Instead of the hoped-for two weeks, those involved learned the test results only a month later. In competitive sport this is no small matter. Calendars, competitions abroad and travel plans move fast.
For example, the trip of overall Cup winner Ott Kiivikas to Minsk could have been at risk if the EKFL had not been sure of the competitor’s cleanliness. A situation like this is not good for the athlete, the federation or the audience. Honest sport needs not only tests but also clear and fast administration.
Anyone who followed the forum’s open discussions about doping at the time also found hints there about whether the testing in May had been done correctly. That question had already moved on to Dr. Mardna’s office, i.e. the Estonian Olympic Committee. In short: the test has to exist, but how it is organized also has to withstand public scrutiny.
What does clean bodybuilding actually demand?
Clean bodybuilding does not mean progress is easy. Quite the opposite. It means a slower road, more patience and fewer quick leaps. Training has to be consistent, nutrition precise and recovery genuinely planned, not just a nice word.
This time, the best examples that clean sport is possible were Nikolai Kornõshev and Ott Kiivikas. That sentence is worth keeping, because it holds the whole core of the story. You can do it honestly, after all.
Honestly, that message matters more than one positive sample. Young athletes look up to those who win on stage. If winning means a result at any price, the sport heads in the wrong direction. If winning means work, patience and control, the example is a completely different one.
Doping test results in the archive
Below you will find the doping test results from that time and links to the documents. They are part of Estonian bodybuilding history and help explain why the tests were discussed so sharply.
Estonian Bodybuilding Championships 2001, 4 Nov. in Tartu
- Marek Kalmus (protocol and report)
- Ott Kiivikas (protocol and report)
- Viktor Tskatenko (protocol and report)
Estonian Bodybuilding Championships 2002, 23 May in Viljandi
- Ott Kiivikas (protocol and report)
- Nikolai Kornishev (protocol and report)
- Aleksei Savjalov (protocol and report)
A practical view for the young competitor
If you want to compete in bodybuilding, factor in testing before your first stage season. Ask your coach directly what is allowed and what is not. Do not take substances of unknown composition just because someone in the locker room recommended them.
Keep a record of what you use. Read the packaging. Avoid blends whose contents are unclear. And most important: do not build your sport on secrecy. If a plan cannot stand daylight, something is probably wrong with the plan.
FAQ
Can you win clean in bodybuilding?
Yes. It takes more time and patience, but Nikolai Kornõshev and Ott Kiivikas were precisely the examples in that story through which it was said outright: you can do it honestly, after all.
Why is a doping test important for an athlete?
A doping test protects honest competitors and gives the audience a firmer reason to believe the results. Without testing, the question always hangs in the air whether the shape seen on stage came from hard work or from banned help.
What should you do if test results are delayed?
The competitor and the federation have to factor in the risk, especially before a competition abroad. In the 2002 story, the problem was precisely that the answer did not arrive within two weeks but only a month later.
Author: Aare Kreilis, https://kulturism.ee/
Come and train! ArtGym
