IBSF Lifts the Provisional Suspension of Four Russian Skeleton Athletes After Hearing

Lausanne, 8 January 2017

IBSF lifts the Provisional Suspension of Four Russian Skeleton Athletes after Hearing

On December 22, 2016 the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) received a letter

from the lnternational Olympic Committee informing that it has opened investigations related to an

alleged anti-doping rule violation of the Athletes in connection with the Olympic Winter Games 2014

in Sochi, Russia.

The IBSF informed each of the Athletes by individual letters on December 30, 2016 that they

are provisionally suspended forthwith from that day in accordance with article 7.9 of the IBSF

Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), version January 1,2015.

The Athletes have requested by email on January 2,2017 in accordance with article 7.9.3 of

the IBSF ADR the opportunity for a Provisional Hearing on a timely basis after imposition of

the Provisional Suspension. The Provisional Hearing was conducted on January 3, 2017 by Dolf Segaar

(Chairman), Dr.Alessia di Gianfrancesco and Prof.Dr.Ian Blackshaw.

The Hearing Panel came to the following conclusion (in parts):

1. Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to a fair trial and, in

particular, guarantees the presumption of innocence until proved guilty. Article 3.1 of the

ADR of the IBSF puts in that context the burden of proof on the IBSF.

2. The Doping Hearing Panel comes to the conclusion that Mclaren Report ll provides sufficient

reason to conduct further investigation by both the IOC and the IBSF into the role of the

Athletes in "tampering or attempted tampering of any Doping Control", as being in line with

article 3.1 of the ADR of the IBSF, but at the same time it comes to the conclusion that at this

very moment there is not (yet) sufficient evidence against the Athletes that would justify the

provisional suspension. The Doping Hearing Panel invites the IOC to share any outcome of its

investigation with the IBSF in order to potentially reconsider the position of the Athletes in

this respect.

3. The Doping Hearing Panel of the IBSF concludes therefore to lift the provisional suspension

of Elena Nikitina, Maria Orlova, Olga Potylitsyna, and Aleksandr Tretiakov, with immediate

effect as of the date of signing of this decision, with reference to article 7.9.3 sub 2(c) of the

ADR of the IBSF. This Decision of the Panel is entirely without prejudice to the pending

investigation of the IOC and does not, in any way whatsoever, preempt the outcome of such

investigation.

The athletes and the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia (BFR) have been informed accordingly and may

therefore start again at IBSF sanctioned races with immediate effect.

All parties involved have confirmed their full support with regard to the investigations currently going

on by the IOC. The IBSF will work closely with the IOC and WADA to assist in this matter.

Contact: press@ibsf.org

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