The ITA reports that Sambo athlete Shokhrukhbek Gapurov has accepted a 3-year ban for his anti-doping rule violation
The International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), reports that Uzbek athlete Shokhrukhbek Gapurov has accepted a three-year sanction after testing positive for the prohibited substance meldonium.
The ITA, on behalf of FIAS, confirms that the athlete Shokhrukhbek Gapurov has agreed¹ to the consequences for his anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
The athlete tested positive for meldonium after providing a sample on 21 September 2025 during an in-competition doping control conducted by the ITA at the 2025 World Cup in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Meldonium is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a Non-Specified Substance. Meldonium is prohibited under the 2025 WADA Prohibited List as S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. Meldonium may enhance sports performance by improving endurance and recovery through increased oxygen uptake and energy metabolism.
When notified of the case, the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.²
The athlete did not challenge the ADRV and agreed with the consequences for his ADRV under the FIAS anti-doping rules as proposed by the ITA. Accordingly, the case was resolved via an acceptance of consequences.
Due to his early admission of the ADRV, the athlete was entitled to a one-year reduction of the applicable period of ineligibility as set forth in article 10.8.1 of the FIAS anti-doping rules.³
The 3-year period of ineligibility is from 28 October 2025 until 27 October 2028. Additionally, all the athlete’s individual competitive results at the 2025 World Cup in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and from the date of sample collection (21 September 2025) until the date of the provisional suspension (28 October 2025) are disqualified.
The decision may be challenged before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the parties with a right of appeal in accordance with Article 13.2.3 of the FIAS anti-doping rules.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
The original press release can be found here: https://ita.sport/news/the-ita-reports-that-sambo-athlete-shokhrukhbek-gapurov-has-accepted-a-3-year-ban-for-his-anti-doping-rule-violation/
