Four Russian Rowers Get Olympics Ban After Failing Doping Test

By The Moscow Times

July 1, 2016

(L-R) Sergey Fedorovtsev, Vladislav Ryabcev, Artem Kosov and Nikita Morgachev, from left, of Russia are in action during the final of the men's quad scull competition at the European Rowing Championships on lake Beetzsee in Brandenburg, Germany. Ralf Hirschberger / AP

Four Russian rowers will not be allowed to participate in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro due to doping test failure, Russia?€™s Channel One reported Friday.

The test revealed that one of the athletes — 2004 Olympic Games winner and twice European champion Sergei Fyodorovtsev ?€” used the banned substance trimetazidine, or preduktal.

The test was conducted in mid May, just before the qualifying competition in Lucerne that gave the athletes the right to represent Russia at the Games.

Following the test?€™s results, their victory has been annulled and their place in the Olympic competition given to New Zealand?€™s rowing team.

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