Last 12 Russian runners punished in doping saga

"MONACO -- The Russian doping crisis that rocked track and field in the 2010s reached a symbolic end Friday with bans and disqualifications for 12 athletes in a final set of disciplinary cases going back over a decade. The Athletics Integrity Unit, which was founded in 2017 as part of track's response to the doping crisis, said this was the "last batch" of proceedings using data from the shuttered Moscow anti-doping laboratory where cases were covered up."

"They prioritized cases involving active and high-profile athletes, so the 12 named Friday were long-since retired athletes or relatively obscure figures. The best known was arguably Elena Kotulskaya, the European indoor silver medalist in the 800 meters in 2013. The AIU's case document said Kotulskaya was banned for four years in relation to apparent cover-ups involving three separate positive samples from 2013. It said she didn't respond to formal notifications about the case."

"In cases spanning the whole range of track and field events, others among the 12 sanctioned Friday included athletes from sprint events, race walking, jumps and a pentathlete. Four of the athletes had already been banned in earlier cases, and for one, middle-distance runner Svetlana Karamasheva, it was the third doping ban of her career. The cases concerned doping cover-ups from as long ago as 2013 and involved various steroids and banned substances."

The Athletics Integrity Unit completed a final set of disciplinary proceedings using data from the closed Moscow anti-doping laboratory, imposing bans and disqualifications on 12 athletes. The cases reach back to 2013 and involve steroids and other banned substances. The AIU prioritized active and high-profile cases earlier, so the sanctioned athletes were largely retired or less prominent. Notable measures included a four-year ban for Elena Kotulskaya related to apparent cover-ups of three positive 2013 samples and repeat bans for several athletes, including Svetlana Karamasheva. Russia remains suspended from international track and field amid readmission and anti-doping fairness concerns.

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