On 26 January 2008, FISA's Executive Committee convened a hearing to consider the status of the Russian Rowing Federation after seven of their rowers had been banned from the sport for having committed anti-doping rule violations during a twelve month period.
The seven Anti-Doping Code violations included:
- August 2007 - The two-year bans of Vladimir Varfolomeev and Denis Moiseev for using a prohibited method and disqualification of Russian Lightweight Men’s double from the 2007 World Rowing Championships;
- August 2007 - The two-year ban of Svetlana Fedorova for using a prohibited method and disqualification of the Russian Women’s eight from the 2007 World Rowing Championships;
- January 2008 - The two-year bans of Alexander Litvintchev, Evgeny Luzyanin and Ivan Podshivalov for using a prohibited method with a disqualification period starting retroactively on 27 August 2008 and retroactive disqualification of the Russian Men’s eight from the 2007 World Rowing Championships.
Friday’s hearing was held to assess the application of sanctions against the Russian Rowing Federation in accordance with Article 12 of the FISA Anti-Doping Bye-Laws which lists the possible sanctions to a National Federation following an anti-doping offence. The Executive Committee applied the provisions of Article 62 of the FISA Statutes and offered the Russian Rowing Federation the opportunity to produce any evidence and to make any submissions.
In their decision, the Executive Committee focused on the following factors:
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gravity of the offenses,
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the lack of cooperation by the federation,
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their refusal to accept responsibility,
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their provision of contradictory, inconsistent and deceptive explanations.
Based on the above considerations, the Executive Committee decided:
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to apply the sanction defined in paragraph 12.2 of Article 12 of the Anti-doping Rules, namely, to obligate the Russian Rowing Federation to reimburse FISA for all costs (including but not limited to laboratory fees, hearing expenses and travel) related to these seven violations of the Anti-Doping Rules committed by Russian athletes. This amount is approximately CHF 50’000 (currently being calculated);
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to apply the sanction defined in paragraph 12.3.1 a of Article 12 of the FISA Anti-Doping Rules, namely, ban all officials of the Russian Rowing Federation from participation in any FISA activities including, but not limited to, the current office bearers and Board of Directors of the Russian Rowing Federation and all coaches, team support staff and medical staff for a period of one year commencing on 27 January 2008.
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to apply the sanction defined in paragraph 12.3.1. b of Article 12 of the Anti-Doping Rules, namely, to fine the Russian Rowing Federation in an amount of CHF 75’000.
This means that officials, coaches and medical personnel of the Russian Rowing Federation will, for one year, receive no invitations for visas from FISA event organising committees, receive no accreditations and will not be allowed in the accredited areas at FISA events and will not be allowed to participate at the FISA Congress. FISA is in discussions with the IOC and the Russian NOC to determine the application of this ban at the Olympic Games. This ban does not apply to the rowers who may still compete at FISA events.