Ukrainian triathlete Yuliya Yelistratova, who was supposed to compete in the Olympic race on July 27, tested positive for EPO.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced the news on July 26, just hours before the event. The positive sample was collected on June 5th, during a race within the framework of the European Cup in Dnipro (Ukraine). “The International Triathlon Federation was informed of the case on July 24 by the Warsaw laboratory,” the ITA said in a statement.
Yuliya Yelistratova, 33, was, therefore “temporarily suspended”. A phrase that deprives her of competing in the Olympic Games. It can, however, challenge the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, requesting the analysis of sample B.
This is not the first doping case to shake the Tokyo Olympics. Swiss 400m hurdle specialist Kariem Hussein also tested positive and was suspended on July 23, just hours before the opening ceremony. Other athletes were also deprived of competition shortly before their debut, such as American Sha’Carri Richardson, suspended on June 28 by the American Anti-Doping Agency for showing positive results for cannabis.