On the results of the preliminary investigation of a criminal case on charges of instructor of one of the fitness centers of Severodvinsk in inducing athletes to use prohibited substances in sports and in storing these substances, the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Arkhangelsk Region has brought charges with committing the crimes under article 230.1 part 2 paragraph “b” and article 234 part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The criminal charges with findings approved by the prosecutor have been referred to the Severodvinsk City Court for its substantive consideration.
During the preliminary investigation, it was established that the accused chose three athletes from the pupils who showed high results, and began to prepare them for participation in the all-Russian powerlifting competitions. Wishing to achieve better performance and using close relationship with the adolescents, the trainer convinced them of the need to use prohibited substances, which allowed them to increase their strength indicators temporarily. For several months - from October 2017 to January 2018 - weekly during trainings, he gave to the adolescents injections of testosterone, which is prohibited for use in sports.
The attaker has been detained in the gym by specialists of the Office for Combating Illegal Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Arkhangelsk Region. The prohibited potent substance has been seized. During the preliminary investigation of this criminal case, a number of examinations were carried out, including the forensic biological examination (DNA).
Russian Anti-doping Agency "RUSADA" actively cooperated with law enforcement agencies during the preliminary investigation and provided expert support to law enforcement officers of the Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Arkhangelsk region.
This case is the first occasion in Russia where the charge is brought under article 230.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and brought to court. RUSADA expresses gratitude to the staff of the Office for Combating Illegal Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Arkhangelsk Region, the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Arkhangelsk Region for the work done to investigate this criminal case and bring it to the trial.