Russian triathlete who took EPO before the Olympics given three year suspension

In August we reported on a number of doping violations by Russian athletes, including the adverse finding of Igor Polyanskiy that had been reported on August 5.

Polyanskiy, who finished 43rd at the Olympics and was part of Russia’s mixed relay, which finished 14th, has been disqualified from all his races after July 21, the day that he tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) during an out-of-competition test in Vladivostok, Russia. He has since been given a three-year suspension because he waived his right to the analysis of the B sample. “thereby agreeing to accept any consequences proposed by World Triathlon,” and “admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation in the 20 days after receiving the charge and therefore he benefits from a reduction of one year in the presumptive four-years period of ineligibility.”

Polyanskiy will be suspended for three years starting on August 10, 2021, which means he’ll be eligible to compete again on August 10, 2024. That most likely means he’ll be out for the Olympics in Paris – while the triathlon schedule has not been announced, the Games run from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024. Polyanskiy finished 31st at the Rio Games.