World Triathlon has provisionally suspended Russian triathlete Alexander Bryukhankov after he returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) (S.2 Peptide, Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics).

The sample was collected during an in-competition anti-doping control test at the 2021 Europe Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships which was held in June in Kitzbuhel, Austria. The Russian finished in fifth place in the B final of the Elite Male category.

Three-time Olympian

Bryukhankov, 34, is a three-time Olympian having competed in Beijing, London and Rio. His best performance came in London when he finished in seventh place.

The athlete now has the right to request the analysis of a B-sample in an effort to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD).

World Triathlon says it will make no further comment due the ongoing proceedings.

Series of positive tests

Bryukhankov is the latest in a series of athletes who have tested positive for banned substances announced by World Triathlon in August.

• Fellow Russian Igor Polyanskiy was provisionally suspended for a positive test for EPO.

• Ukrainian Yuliya Yelistratova also tested positive for EPO during the 2021 Europe Triathlon Cup Dnipro, held in the Ukraine.

• Yelistratova’s husband, Russian Vladimir Turbayevskiy has also been suspended for “abnormalities in the haematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) based on abnormalities detected in blood samples collected in June and July 2014 and in August 2020 all of which indicate blood manipulation”.

Turbayevskiy – prior to his suspension – said in defence of Yuliya’s own EPO positive, “We ourselves cannot understand how it happened. Julia has been in the pool for so many years, constantly giving samples, including for a blood passport. And suddenly such news.”

A month later, that Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) would form his own downfall.