Tuesday June 22, 2021
Russia star acquitted
Unusual explanation for suspected doping
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Sergej Schubenkow has long been one of the Russian athletes who are exempt from the suspension of their association. Until he tested positive for a diuretic in December 2020, which is on the doping list. Now he invalidates the suspicion with an extraordinary explanation.
Former Russian 110-meter hurdle world champion Sergej Schubenkow has been acquitted of suspected doping by the AIU Independent Integrity Commission of the World Athletics Association. Schubenkow had involuntarily ingested a substance from his baby’s crushed medication, according to the AIU’s statement, which described the case as “really exceptional”.
The 2015 World Cup champion tested positive for the banned diuretic acetazolamide during training last December. Diuretics are water tablets that are used to keep the body dry. This can also cover up doping, which is why they are on the list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“My three-month-old son has been prescribed a drug that is on the WADA list,” the 30-year-old wrote on Instagram: “A child of this age cannot swallow, so we had to prepare the pills in a certain way. ” Small, almost invisible powder particles would have triggered the positive test, said the two-time European champion and runner-up world champion in 2019.
“Fortunately it turned out well,” wrote Schubenkow next to a photo with his hand over his mouth and wide eyes. Schubenkow is a symbol of clean sport in the great Russian doping scandal. The suspension of the national association Rusaf in November 2015 for state-sponsored doping applies to other Russian athletes.
After the decision of the AIU, Schubenkow has the chance to take part in the Olympic Games (July 23 to August 8), even if he is not currently on the list of neutral athletes who are allowed to start in Tokyo after the ban against Russia. Schubenkow was considered a model athlete who was allowed to compete internationally as one of the few Russian athletes because he had subjected himself to independent controls. He could be one of ten Russian neutral starters at the Summer Games.
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