Russian Cyclist Novikov Gets 2-Year Ban for Doping

MOSCOW, January 14 (R-Sport) – Russian road racing cyclist Nikita Novikov has received a two-year ban for using banned substances, anti-doping agency RUSADA said Tuesday.

Novikov was suspended from competition by the International Cycling Union in June after testing positive for hydroxy-ostarine and o-dephenyl-ostarine, both of which promote muscle growth.

Novikov had hitherto been regarded as one of Russia's most promising young riders, winning the Tour de Slovaquie and Tour des Pays de Savoie in 2011 with the Itera-Katusha team.

The 24-year-old's ban runs until June 6, 2015, Russia’s RUSADA said.

"RUSADA has taken the decision, on the basis of conclusions by the disciplinary anti-doping committee, to disqualify the athlete Nikita Novikov ... for a breach of anti-doping rules," RUSADA said in a statement.

Sports doping: classification and effects

Last year, Novikov participated in 10 races as a part of the Dutch team Vacansoleil-DCM , with his best result coming in May's Tour du Nord Pas-de-Calais when he finished 14th in the general classification and sixth in the youth classification. That result remains in force as it came before his positive test.

Novikov's ban is the fourth doping sanction in the space of a month for Russian cyclists. Road racers Elena Bocharnikova and Yana Bezrukova each received two-year bans last month, while BMX rider Svetlana Khakui was hit with a sixth-month sanction Saturday.