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World Triathlon has imposed a period of ineligibility of three years on Russian triathlete Alexander Bryukhankov for the presence of EPO in his urine sample on an in-competition doping control on 19 June, 2021, at the Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships in Kitzbuhel, Austria, in which he finished in the 5th place in the Final B.

World Triathlon reported previously that a sample collected from Mr. Bryukhankov had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) (S2. Peptide, Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics). The sample was collected under the authority of World Triathlon in accordance of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations and was sent for analysis to the Seibersdorf WADA accredited Laboratory.

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. 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.

World Triathlon hereby imposes a period of ineligibility of three years on Mr. Bryukhankov for the presence of EPO in his urine samples in contravention to Article 2.1 of the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). All the Athlete’s results and points earned since 19 June 2021 are to be disqualified with all resulting consequences including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money.

The Athlete will receive credit for the period of suspension already served. His period of ineligibility will therefore be backdated to 26 August 2021, the date the Athlete was provisionally suspended. He will be free to resume competition 26 August 2024.

During this period of ineligibility, the Athlete may not participate in any capacity in a Competition or activity (other than authorised anti-doping Education or rehabilitation programs) authorised or organised by any Signatory, Signatory’s member organisation, or a club or other member organisation of a Signatory’s member organisation, or in Competitions authorised or organised by any professional league or any international- or national-level Event organisation or any elite or national-level sporting activity funded by a governmental agency.