Ruslan Gaziev Suspended For Anti-Doping Whereabouts Violation

Rusian Gaziev-Olympic Swimming Trials-f-20june2021Photo Scott Grant

Ruslan Gaziev -- Photo Courtesy: Scott Grant/Swimming Canada

Ruslan Gaziev Suspended For Anti-Doping Whereabouts Violation

Veteran Canadian sprinter Ruslan Gaziev missed the recent Canadian Olympic Trials, and the reasons for his absence have now become public: Gaziev received an 18-month suspension for “three confirmed whereabouts failures during a 12-month period.” His suspension from competition began in December and will conclude May 31, 2025.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport handed down the penalty after Gaziev’s missed tests, and the CCES confirmed that Gaziev “signed an Agreement on Consequences thereby waiving his right to a hearing and accepting the proposed sanction and all other applicable consequences.” The release added that Gaziev “is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), including training with teammates.”

Gaziev’s absence will be a big loss for Team Canada at this summer’s Olympics after he swam on five relays at last year’s World Championships, including finals squads of the men’s and mixed 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. In addition to his role in international swimming, Gaziev swam for Ohio State University from 2018 until 2023, topping out at fourth in the country in the 100-yard freestyle at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Swimming Canada responded to Gaziev’s sanction with a statement, with the national governing body for the country expressing support for “anti-doping regulations… in place to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.” The statement is posted below:

Swimming Canada respects the decision of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to suspend national team athlete Ruslan Gaziev from Dec. 1, 2023 to May 31, 2025 due to an anti-doping rule violation.

“We understand that Ruslan did not keep his whereabouts information fully up-to-date and was therefore not available for required testing. Ruslan has explained to us that it was inadvertent,” said Swimming Canada Acting CEO Suzanne Paulins. “Anti-doping regulations are in place to ensure a level playing field for all athletes, and we are committed to the enforcement and support of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP).”

“It is certainly disappointing news for Ruslan, his teammates and all of us at Swimming Canada who know how hard he has worked over the years to compete at the international level,” Paulins said.

Paulins noted that the sanction highlights the need for athletes to complete whereabouts information and be available for testing.

“Athletes are responsible for completing whereabouts and submitting filings on time to avoid a sanction such as this. We hope this incident will serve as a reminder for all athletes around the need to follow the CADP and ensure they are compliant.”

Once informed of the violation, Gaziev cooperated with all aspects of the process.

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