Russian hammer thrower Tatyana Lysenko has been suspended after testing positive for banned substances.
The 32-year-old is the current Olympic and double world champion in the event, now going under the surname Beloborodova, however she has become the latest Russian athlete to have been caught doping.
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) stated on Tuesday to Reuters that “The IAAF can confirm that Tatyana Beloborodova (Lysenko) is provisionally suspended. As with all ongoing cases the IAAF will not comment further until its conclusion,”
Suspension is currently provisional, as the Athletics Governing body added that further drugs tests are being carried out, meaning Lysenko could face a second lengthy suspension for doping.
Lysenko previously tested positive for steroid use in 2007, one year after winning the European championship gold, receiving a ban until 2009 which kept her out of the 2007 world championships and 2008 Olympic games.
Since November last year Russia have been banned from all international competitions, including this year’s Rio Olympics, for state-sponsored doping and corruption.
This latest ban will therefore prove to be a considerable blow for the nation’s hopes of competing in the Olympics, as their Athletics Federation have attempted to prove that they are taking the necessary measures to tackle doping in their country.
Their place in the Olympics and the length of Lysenko’s ban will likely be decided at an IAAF council meeting next month.
