The Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced that Oleg Verniaiev’s doping suspension is reduced from four to two years. Oleg Verniaiev tested positive for meldonium in August 2020 during an out of competition doping test. He was notified of the test result in November 2020 and provisionally suspended which led him to miss the 2020 European Championships. In July 2021, Verniaiev received an official suspension for four years starting on November 5th 2020. First-time doping violations normally result in a two-year suspension if an athlete admits their fault. However, since Verniaiev claimed he did not take meldonium, he got suspended for four years which effectively would take him out of contention not just for the Tokyo Olympics but for the 2024 Paris Olympics as well.
Verniaiev fought the suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport claiming that the source of meldonium was contaminated food. This is actually a solid argument that was also used by a Russian cyclist Natalia Studenikina recently – she was able to prove that meldonium in her body came from the dairy products she consumed. Meldonium is an active ingredient in veterinary drugs for cattle and poultry that are widely used in Eastern Europe. There are no restrictions on selling meat or dairy from animals that were treated with meldonium because the drug in the concentrations that are found in animal products is not considered dangerous for people. However, those concentrations may be enough to cause a positive doping test. Verniaiev has been able to successfully argue that he did not take meldonium intentionally and his suspension was reduced, although not annulled. He is now eligible to compete again. Additionally, even if he does not return to competition as an athlete, the suspension also prevented him from attending international competitions as a coach or official, so he will now be able to continue working in gymnastics with no restrictions.
Verniaiev wrote on his Instagram:
“It was a long process in which I proved the lack of intent to take doping. The court reduced the sanction by half. This says the court accepted my arguments and confirmed that meldonium entered my body not due to my fault or negligence. I thank my loved ones and friends for believing in me and supporting me during all this time. And hello to all those who didn’t want it. Until we meet again. Faster. Higher. Stronger.”
