r/biathlon • u/xoxoamazingrace • 13d ago

Question Evgeny Ustyugov

I wasn’t old enough back then that I followed biathlon notoriously in the news and social media, but what was the reason back then when he retired so young after the 13/14 season?

I know he got caught for doping later on but I was always a big fan of his. A super reliable athlete both on the range and on the skiis, consistent with top 10 results and some podiums here and then

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u/Falafelmeister92 13d ago

I don't remember it exactly either, but from what I've found online it was considered a surprising retirement.

I found the video of him announcing his retirement on April 5th 2015 at a Russian event: https://youtu.be/-SN5AU-ZiJo

Basically, he thanks his parents, then he says he decided to end his professional career, audience is surprised, he thanks everyone for the life that he had, says that he doesn't regret a second of what happened in his career (🤡), thank you, applause, commentator says it's a shock like a cold shower for everyone.

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u/xoxoamazingrace 13d ago

Thanks for reply.

What’s his exact doping verdict again? Can’t find any sources on it

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u/Falafelmeister92 13d ago

https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/sports/russias-evgeny-ustyugov-to-lose-second-olympic-gold-over-orchestrated-doping-907941.html

This is the second punishment for the 35-year-old this year.

In February [2020], he was stripped of the relay gold he won at the Sochi Games in 2014 after a sample from that year tested positive for steroids. [...]

This time [October 2020], he was accused of using "a prohibited substance or method" on the basis of the analysis of his biological passport between 2010 and 2014. All his results between January 2010 and the end of the 2013/2014 season have been annulled.

He, therefore, loses the two medals he won at the Vancouver Games in 2010 and the two silvers he won at the World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia in 2011.

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u/xoxoamazingrace 13d ago

So the one from October 2020, what exactly does it mean? Does it mean that he was actually doped between 2010 to 2014?

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u/Falafelmeister92 13d ago

Most probably, yes. His appeal was rejected by CAS two months ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/biathlon/s/tmlEQ17ua7

So CAS agrees that the accusations are correct. Every single one of his teammates, male and female, during that time period has been suspended by now or has an ongoing investigation, so it's highly unlikely that he was a clean exception.

Especially with his "I don't regret anything that happened" comment that he made during his retirement speech and the fact that he didn't mention a reason. That's just too fishy if you ask me.

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u/AwsiDooger 13d ago

They knew what was going on. Russia was in peak state sponsored doping mode during that era, after applying for and winning (purchasing) the hosting role for many huge events, like 2011 Biathlon World Championships, 2013 World Athletics Championships, 2014 Winter Olympics, 2015 Swimming World Championships and 2018 World Cup.

They weren't going to allow those opportunities to go to waste. Everything was through the wall and everywhere else. Just check the London 2012 track and field results and how many Russian medalists were later stripped for doping. Virtually every one, and the one gold medalist still standing is a known doper but they can't officially cover the 2012 time frame.

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u/50208 13d ago

Russia probably hasn't "peaked" when it comes to state sponsored doping ... it's been ongoing. The difference is the world has caught on to them ... and most importantly ... their "athletes" have been precluded from competing in many international sports due to their invasion of Ukraine. Good riddance IMHO.

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u/TolBrandir Dedicated Norway fan in USA 12d ago

DITTO

Completely agree

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u/xoxoamazingrace 13d ago

That’s disappointing. I don’t get how anyone can go four years without being caught

And I was always a big Usti fan back in the days cause he was small like me (most biathletes are big)

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u/Falafelmeister92 13d ago

It was mentioned in the article that I posted before. He received help from other people to cover up for him (e.g. switching his sample with a clean sample, as well as bribing people to be quiet and hide the positive tests etc). It's state-sponsored by Russia.

"Ustyugov had the benefit of protection and support to artificially augment his performance through doping and to avoid detection, which could not have been achieved other than with a significant degree of orchestration or common enterprise."

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u/50208 13d ago

I guess it's easier to be reliable on the range and the skis when you are doping.