The Russian Rowing Federation and its athletes may be suspended for four years from all international sports events as two more rowers were banned on Wednesday following positive doping tests.
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) said in a statement that it had banned Russia's Anastasia Fatina and Anastasia Karabelshchikova as the athletes "were identified through DNA analysis as having intravenously infused substances for a non-legitimate acute medical reason."
The federation said that the two athletes bring the number of disqualified R
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ussians in a single doping case, which began last year, up to eight.
Last year, the day after the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, a plastic bag with incriminating evidence was discovered in a garbage bin outside the Russian team's hotel.
DNA samples taken from blood remaining on the discovered medical equipment eventually led to the disqualification of one female and five male Russian athletes.
FISA Executive Director Matt Smith said: "These are the last two athletes identified by DNA analysis to have used the material found in Lucerne last July."
According to FISA regulations, "the officials of a National Federation can be banned if four or more violations of the Anti-Doping Code are committed within a 12 month period." Last week, officials of the Russian Rowing Federation were banned from participating in all FISA events for one year.
In line with other regulations of the federation, the FISA may now consider a total suspension of the Russian Rowing Federation, including its athletes for the period of up to four years.
The Russian Rowing Federation and its athletes may be suspended for four years from all international sports events as two more rowers were banned on Wednesday following positive doping tests.
