Submitted by jon on February 19, 2008 - 3:51pm.
The IPF Executive Committee has suspended the Russian Powerlifting Federation (RPF) and invalidated all of its international and regional results effective October 21, 2007 and continuing until August 30, 2008.
Russia had been competing while on probation after the IPF allowed them to be reinstated early from a prior suspension for massive doping violations. Terms of that probation included a further one year suspension if any lifter tested positive at an IPF meet or in an IPF out of competition test (OCT). Russian Yoriy Fedorenko tested positive during the probationary period in an OCT.
Although his positive test occurred on September 24, the start date of Russia's suspension was pushed back to begin at the conclusion of the 2007 World Championships. As such, all of Russia's results at those championships, including a perfect team score, are preserved.
In addition, instead of a one year suspension, as called for in the original terms of the probation, the IPF decided extenuating circumstances dictated a shortened 10 month suspension.
Following the completed term of the suspension, Russia will again be put on probation. Probation will last until June 30, 2009. Any international positive drug tests will results in a further suspension. No indication is given toward the length of time that suspension will last. Although the IPF will also continue OCT, there is no clear indication if a failure will trigger another suspension.
Federation President Detlev Albrings reminds member nations that the IPF has the right to expel nations with recurring doping problems and warns that the federation is examining the doping records of nations other than Russia. Albrings also reaffirms the IPF's committment to creating a drug free federation, saying that they "will continue to take all necessary measures to eradicate drugs in Powerlifting."
Albrings discusses how the EC arrived at the penalty:
Members of the IPF and others in the sporting world will be aware that over the last two years the IPF has instituted various disciplinary and rehabilitatory actions with nations with unacceptable drug test result from international competition.
Such actions have included sanctions against the Russian Powerlifting Federation (RPF). As from mid 2007 the RPF was in the position that it was serving out an extended suspended sentence, running through to the end of 2008. The terms of that suspended sentence included the provision that even one international positive drug test would trigger a full suspension.
With that sentence hanging over the heads of the Russian Federation, some encouraging developments were observed in the IPF. A domestic Out-of-Competition testing programme was reported, with mostly negative results and positives acted on by suspension. In Russia’s return to World Championships, in Austria last October, no less than 16 Russian lifters were tested, with all results negative. The RPF has provided Whereabouts details for many of its international lifters and has co-operated with IPF Out-of-Competition testing in Russia.
However unfortunately a September 2007 IPF Out-of-Competition test on a Russian lifter has returned a positive result for a diuretic. A 2 year individual suspension has been imposed on that lifter.
The IPF Executive has considered all aspects of the recent situation with the RPF and has determined that the positive test result, at a time of suspended sentence for the RPF, must be met with a further federation suspension. However the IPF has taken into account the other steps forward by the RPF in 2007 and has tailored the federation penalty to reflect the circumstances of this case.
Accordingly, the RPF has been suspended from international and regional competition for the period 21st October 2007 to 30th August 2008 (any international or regional Russian results achieved after 21st October are thus now invalid). Further, the RPF will be placed on probation for the period 1st September 2008 to 30th June 2009 i.e. for the ten months after their suspension is completed. If the RPF incurs any international positive drug test results in that period of probation federation suspension will again be imposed. As well, the IPF will in 2008 and 2009 continue to conduct Out-of-Competition testing in Russia, as well as requiring the RPF to conduct its own national Out-of-Competition testing programme.
The IPF continues to attempt to be constructive in using sanctioning, monitoring and direct testing as methods in assisting federations in solving any doping problems in their nation. However the IPF reserves the right to employ extended suspension or even expulsion with nation federations with recurring doping problems. Not only Russia, but also other national federations are now being examined by the IPF in terms of their doping records and we will continue to take all necessary measures to eradicate drugs in Powerlifting.
http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/7366
