Ukrainian Rower Receives Two Year Ban

Ukrainian rower Iryna Iarosh has received a two year ban from national and international competition after failing an out of competition doping test at the end of last year. The test, conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on behalf of the International Rowing Federation, FISA, was conducted during a training camp in Cairo, Egypt in December 2007.

The tested samples showed the presence of a number of substances included on the 2007 prohibited substances list of WADA’s code.

In accordance with FISA’s anti-doping rules, Iarosh was invited to attend a hearing or state her position in writing. Iarosh chose to provide written statement to FISA in which she stated that she had been given advice to take the banned substance to recover from a bad respiratory disease, but that neither her doctor, nor her coach had been informed that she was taking medicine. She also stated that she was not aware that the substance was prohibited.

According to Article 2.1.1 of FISA’s anti-doping rules, it is each Athlete’s personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters his or her body.

FISA’s hearing panel reviewed the material provided to the athlete by the National Federation as well as the explanation provided by the athlete and concluded that the explanations of the athlete relating to no fault or negligence were insufficient and that therefore the athlete is considered at fault.

The panel found that Iarosh had committed an anti-doping rule violation and is therefore banned from competing both nationally and internationally for two years. This period of ineligibility begins from the date of the provisional suspension which was 17 January 2008.

Iarosh, 23, competed last year at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships where she finished fourth in the pair. She also competed at the 2007 European Championships in the Ukrainian women’s eight.

 

Link to the Official Decision