Esen Kaliev suspended for anti-doping violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has suspended the Kyrgyzstan powerlifter Esen Kaliev for four years for committing an anti-doping violation.

The London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympian returned an adverse analytical finding for methasterone metabolite in a urine sample provided on 18 February 2018 following an in-competition test after competing in the 9th Fazza Dubai 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in the up to 59kg class.

This substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2018 Prohibited List under the category S1.1A Exogenous AAS.

As a result of his violation, Kaliev will be ineligible for competition for four years from 8 May 2018 until 7 May 2022. This means he will not be eligible to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

All his results obtained from 18 February 2018 and onwards will be disqualified including forfeiture of any medals, points, records and prizes. This includes the silver medal he won at the 9th Fazza Dubai 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup. This will now be awarded to the original bronze medal finisher Choochat Sukjarern of Thailand while Ukraine’s Denys Ostapuk will receive the bronze medal.

The IPC would like to remind all athletes the principle of strict liability applies to anti-doping matters. Therefore, each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code to prevent doping in sport for Paralympic athletes, in the spirit of fair play. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.