World Triathlon hand three-year ban on Russian triathlete Alexander Bryukhankov for doping offence
World Triathlon have handed a three-year ban on Russian Olympian Alexander Bryukhankov for a doping offence.
Earlier this month we reported on an identical sanction was imposed on his fellow countryman, Igor Polyanskiy after traces of Erythropoietin (EPO) were found in a sample from the Olympian.
Now, the World Triathlon has confirmed that the presence of EPO was also found in a sample from Alexander Bryukhankov taken in June’s Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Brukhankov competed in his first triathlon in 2002 and caught the eye of a number of coaches and athletes. His first taste of success on the International level came in 2006 when he finished second in the Junior category at the European Triathlon Championships, which he followed up with a runner-up finish at the Junior World Championships in Switzerland later that year.
The Russian competed in his first Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, finishing 24th overall. Inspired by his first Olympic competition, Brukhankov had a breakthrough season in 2009, finishing third at the ETU European Championships in Holten and third at the World Championship Series event in Hamburg. After wrapping up the season with a tenth-place showing at the Gold Coast Grand Final, Brukhankov finished the season 11th in the world rankings.
In 2012 at the London Olympics, he took 7th place and has since won many podiums places in Triathlon World and European Cups.
A statement by the governing body read: “World Triathlon reported previously that a sample collected from Bryukhankov had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) (S2. Peptide, Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics).
“On 15 September World Triathlon notified the Athlete that it was charging Bryukhankov with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) because he did not exercise his right to the analysis of the B sample within the deadline provided.
“The athlete admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) in the 20 days after receiving notice of the charge and therefore he benefits from a reduction of one year in the presumptive four-years period of ineligibility.
“World Triathlon hereby imposes a period of ineligibility of three years on Bryukhankov for the presence of EPO in his urine samples in contravention to Article 2.1 of the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). All the Athlete’s results and points earned since 19 June 2021 are to be disqualified with all resulting consequences including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money.”
The 34-year-old Bryukhankov received credit for the period of suspension already served. His period of ineligibility will therefore be backdated to 26 August 2021, the date the Athlete was provisionally suspended. He will be free to resume competition 26 August 2024.
