Three Russian rowers were banned for two years for breaching anti-doping decision of FISA, the rowing world governing body announced in Munich on Wednesday at the world rowing championships.

 

A FISA doping hearing panel decided the ban Tuesday on the three Russian rowers Vladimir Varfolomeev, Denis Moiseev and Svetlana Fedorova. The reason was they had committed violations of the Anti-Doping provisions of the FISA rules of racing.

 

FISA executive director Matt Smith confirmed on Wednesday the decision of banning three Russian rowers for two years starting from August 28, 2007.

 

"No prohibited substance found in the three Russian rowers, but they violated anti-doping code by using a prohibited method during competition," said Smith.

 

"So they are excluded from the championships and the boats they are in will be removed from the championships in order not to affect Olympic qualification," added Smith.

 

According to Smith, the problem for Russians is the intravenous infusion without legitimate medical treatment. Russian rowers were in breach of article 2.2 of these anti-doping bye-laws in FISA for committing the use of a prohibited method.

 

The article 2.2 says "the success or failure of the use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method is not material. It is sufficient that the prohibited substance or prohibited method was used or attempted to be used for an anti-doping rule violation to be committed".

 

Smith hinted that the test on Russian rowers is out of suspicion first. If a systematic anti-doping violation is found in the Russian team, the FISA will take some actions against the Russian Rowing Federation as Smith suggested.

 

An in-competition test on a Russian female rower last year in Bulgaria led to FISA's suspicion on Russians. The test on an unnamed Russian rower turned out different results out of three consecutive trials just within two days, so FISA doubted a kind of crack doping method was likely involved there.

 

The sample from that rower was sent to Paris laboratory for further analysis, but the laboratory closed down on August and the rower was eligible to compete and won on September last year.

 

FISA does not expect such occurrence for a second time, so it gives a close eye to Russia and it gets proved to be reasonable. "Our evidence is correct and we will look closely at Russians," said Smith.

 

"We need to improve our test in more efficient way and more out-of-competition and in-competition tests are needed.

 

"There are two hearing panels in FISA. There is a long intermission between the two panels to give rower chances to present their full stories."

 

The first hearing penal for Russians was on last Friday, and the second was on Tuesday.

 

The FISA investigation is to continue and further action will be taken on the incident.

 

As a result of these decisions, the Russian Lightweight Men's Double Sculls (LM2x) and the Russian Women's Eight (W8+) will no longer take part in the World Rowing Championships running until the weekend.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)