Last week we reported on the three year suspension given to Igor Polyanskiy for a positive EPO test. Today we learned of another Russian who tested positive for the same drug – Erythropoietin (EPO) – who has received the same penalty because he admitted to the offense.
Alexander Bryukhankov tested positive for EPO during an in-competition test at the Europe Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in Kitzbuhel, Austria on June 19, 2021. He finished fifth in the “B” final at that race.
“On 15 September World Triathlon notified the Athlete that it was charging Mr. 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,” World Triathlon announced in a release today. “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.”
Bryukhankov received credit for the suspension he’d already served, which means that his suspension was back-dated to Aug. 26, 2021 – that means he’ll be eligible to compete again on Aug. 26, 2024. He is disqualified from all events he participated in since June 19.
