Russian swimmers Alexandr Kudashev and Veronika Andrusenko has been cleared to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Both Kudashev and Andrusenko were provisionally suspended on doping charges just before the Russian Olympic team left for Japan.
Earlier this week, the pair of elite Russian swimmers have been provisionally suspended from the Tokyo Olympics over suspected doping violations by CAS. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) announced in a statement on its website on Wednesday. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Sunday cleared both swimmers, according to FINA, the leading body for swimming on the globe.
Alexander Kudashev. (Image Courtesy: Tellerreport)
FINA President Husain Al-Musallam showed his appreciation towards WADA for its “diligence in helping to ensure clean competition at Tokyo 2021.” Husain further added, “We were duty-bound to follow up quickly and carefully on the material provided. We will both respect and implement CAS’s decision.”
The athletes, Veronika Andrusenko and Alexander Kudashev, are all set to compete under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) rather than the Russian tricolor at the Tokyo Games which start July 23.
Veronica Andrusenko. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
FINA said it asserted the anti-doping rule violations based on evidence supplied by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) including material recovered from the former Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory. FINA also added that “a procedure is now ongoing” regarding the provisional suspensions.
Andrusenko, a two-time Olympian, won silver and bronze medals at World Championships in Budapest (2017) and in Barcelona (2013). She entered to compete in the 200m freestyle in Tokyo. Kudashev was set to race the 200m butterfly.
Two Russian Swimmers that were supposed to swim at the Tokyo Olympics have been suspended for doping violations 👀
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 15, 2021
Andrusenko and Kudashev are not the only athletes to fall in the radar of anti-doping authorities in the run-up to the Tokyo Games. Last week, two Tokyo-bound Russian rowers who tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium amd were handed down the suspensions. Moreover on July 3, American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson received a one-month suspension after admitting to marijuana use.
