“Better to stumble than make a slip of the tongue,”
— Russian proverb.
Victoriya Sudarušhkina is a Russian javelin thrower. She is an athlete who competed under the Russian systematic doping regime. Sudarušhkina tested positive for anabolic steroids, however, the Russian anti-doping agency tampered with the process and multiple times marked her tests as negative. The Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU) stepped in and ended the charade.
On June 15, 2014, Sudarušhkina was subject to an out-of-competition urine doping test. The Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS, a database) indicated that ostarine was found in this sample. Ostarine, a SARM is prohibited and is an “anabolic agent” on the 2014 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list.
It was determined by lawyer Richard McLaren that the LIMS database had been manipulated. In 2016, McLaren and a special task group with WADA attempted and were denied access to the database on multiple occasions. Once granted access, the task force found Russian data to have been manipulated.
What are Ostarine and Trenbolone ?
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator or SARM for short. It attaches to proteins in the body known as androgen receptors and when it binds to these receptors, it tells muscles to grow. Ostarine is banned by WADA.
The 2015 LIMS data and the analytical data show that four of Sudarušhkina’s samples contained prohibited substances and were not reported as positive as part of the Russian manipulation scheme, according to the AIU.
On Feb. 28, 2013, she was subject to a urine test. The 2015 LIMS indicates that trenbolone was found in this sample, an anabolic steroid. The sample was reported as negative by the Moscow laboratory. On June 8, 2014, she was subject to an in-competition urine test. The 2015 LIMS indicates that ostarine was found in this sample. The sample was reported as negative by the Moscow laboratory. On June 9, 2014, Sudarušhkina was subject to an out-of-competition urine test. The 2015 LIMS indicates that ostarine was found in this sample. It was also reported as negative by Moscow.
Notified by a written letter on July 27, 2023, the AIU maintained that the athlete had committed anti-doping rule violations. The now 33-year-old was granted an opportunity to request a hearing by Aug. 10, 2023. She was specifically informed that, if she failed to request a hearing, she would waive her right to a hearing and accept the anti-doping rule violation and a suspension of four years.
Not only had she failed anti-doping tests, she failed to reply to multiple attempts to contact her, thereby risking suspension.
Suspended and results annulled
According to a press release from the AIU, Sudarušhkina has a period of ineligibility of four years starting from the date of this decision of Feb. 21, 2024, effectively ending her career. Also, all competitive results from Feb. 28 2013 until the date of the decision are disqualified, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, points, prize money and prizes.
Sudarušhkina was already suspended in 2016 as part of the global ban by World Athletics. The country was banned due to systematic doping and continues to be banned for the war in Ukraine.
“A fly will not get into a closed mouth.”
— Apparent failed Russian proverb.
