Decision on Appeals of Four Russian Cross Country Athletes

FIS Doping Panel Decision on appeals of the provisionally suspended Russian Cross Country athletes Ivanova, Petukhov, Shapovalova and Vylegzhanin

Six Russian Cross Country athletes on 22nd December after the findings in the McLaren Report outlined alleged anti-doping rules violations in connection with the Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi (RUS).

The athletes and the Russian National and Cross-Country Ski Associations were duly notified of the disciplinary proceedings and further investigations by the IOC, and the implementation of provisional suspensions by FIS. Following this notification, the athletes appealed the provisional suspension.

The FIS Doping Panel, after having heard Julia Ivanova, Evgenia Shapovalova, Alexey Petukhov and Maxim Vylegzhanin, and the FIS, has decided today (06.02.2017) by majority not to reverse its initial decision but to uphold the provisional suspensions of the four athletes until further notice. A similar decision was handed down for the teammates Alexander Legkov and Evgeniy Belov on 25th January 2017.

The decisions may be appealed exclusively to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne (CAS) in accordance with the provisions applicable before such court. The time to file an appeal to CAS shall be twenty-one days from the date of receipt of this decision by the appealing party.

As a result of the decision, the four athletes may not take part in any competitions at any level.