World Triathlon has imposed a three-year ban on Alexander Bryukhankov of the Russian Federation for a doping offence.
Earlier this month, an identical sanction was imposed on Bryukhankov's compatriot Igor Polyanskiy after traces of Erythropoietin (EPO) were found in a sample from the Olympian.
Now, the governing body has confirmed that the presence of EPO was also found in a sample from Bryukhankov taken in June's Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships.
A statement on the World Triathlon website read: "World Triathlon reported previously that a sample collected from Mr. Bryukhankov had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) (S2. Peptide, Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics).
"On 15 September World Triathlon notified the Athlete that it was charging Mr. Bryukhankov with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) because he did not exercise his right to the analysis of the B sample within the deadline provided.
"The athlete admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) in the 20 days after receiving notice of the charge and therefore he benefits from a reduction of one year in the presumptive four-years period of ineligibility.
"World Triathlon hereby imposes a period of ineligibility of three years on Mr. Bryukhankov for the presence of EPO in his urine samples in contravention to Article 2.1 of the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). All the Athlete's results and points earned since 19 June 2021 are to be disqualified with all resulting consequences including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money."
Bryukhankov - who competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and took European silver in triathlon in 2012 - cannot compete again until August 26, 2024.
Ben Knapton
