In a press release on the issue, the World Rowing Federation, FISA has advised for the disqualification of the Russian Men’s quadruple sculls due to a doping violation.
The incident came into notice on June 16, 2016 when the analysis of Urine sample A of Russian Rower Sergej Fedorovtsev indicated a positive result for the prohibited substance Trimetazidine which is a substance listed in Section 4 of the banned substance list in the category Hormone and Metabolic Modulators, paragraph 5, metabolic modulators. He was suspended provisionally on this date.
As per norms of the event, on May 17, 2016 Rower Sergej Fedorovtsev had provided a urine sample at an out-of-competition test conducted by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency as a member of the Russian men’s quadruple sculls which qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
To confirm the doping violation, on June 30, 2016, the B sample was opened in the presence of the rower. The subsequent analysis confirmed the result of the A sample. It was therefore established that an anti-doping rule violation has taken place.
The violation means that the results of all competitions in which the rower participated after 17 May 2016 are therefore automatically disqualified (Article 10.8).
Further to that, all other competitive results of the athlete obtained from the date a positive Sample was collected (whether In-Competition or out-of-Competition), or other anti-doping rule violation occurred, through the commencement of any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be disqualified with all of the resulting Consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes (Article 9).
The Final Olympic Qualification Regatta for rowing was held on 24 May 2016 in Lucerne, Switzerland. And hence the qualification earned by the Russian men’s quadruple sculls was after his doping violation, so, as a result, FISA withdrew the Olympic Qualification quota earned by Russian Rower on May 24. And in line with the rule, the FISA Executive Committeedecided that the New Zealand men’s quadruple sculls, which was placed 3rd, is hereby attributed this Olympic qualification quota spot.