Two Russian U23 riders positive

Two young Russian riders have returned a positive doping test result and will receive a two-year suspension by the International Cycling Union (UCI) according to Russian Sports news agency All Sport. Anton Reshetnikov and Elena Kuchinskaya respectively used forbidden substances Carphedon and Furosemide, doping tests undertaken in July revealed. Still, the Russian Cycling Federation was advised of these results only in September, which left some time to the athletes to score results.

"At the beginning of September, our Federation got a letter from the UCI, in which they said that U23 riders Anton Reshetnikov and Elena Kuchinskaya had tested positive," said Russian Cycling Federation President Alexander Gusyatnikov. "The samples were taken in Italy on July, but we got the results only now. During this period of time, Kuchinskaya won the bronze medal at the Russian Championships, and Reshetnikov was the winner at the Grand Prix Wilhelm Tell in Switzerland in the end of August."

22 year-old Reshetnikov took part in the U23 World Championships in 2006 and the U23 European Championships in 2007. Kuchinskaya won the bronze medal in the U23 Russian Championships. This year she also took part in the female Giro d’Italia, where she was 33th.

Gusyatnikov deplored the "doping ignorance of our athletes," saying that at least Reshetnikov had no intention of increasing his performances when he took Carphedon. "The substances found in their organisms have nothing in common with cycling," he continued. "Especially it is a pity in the case of Reshetnikov. He fell down very seriously during the training camp in Adler, hurt his head and went to the local hospital to reduce the pain. The doctor didn't know he was an athlete, and gave him Fenotropil, which is Carphedon. The athlete felt better, but only until the first doping control."

The Russian federation will investigate the case, and try to reduce the suspension. But "to tell the truth there is not much chance for it. The standard suspension in such cases is two years," Gusyatnikov added.