Canadian swimmer Ruslan Gaziev suspended for anti-doping violations

Canadian Olympic swimmer Ruslan Gaziev has been suspended 18 months for anti-doping rule violations.

The 24-year-old from Toronto failed to provide drug testers with a quarterly outline of his schedule and provide a 60-minute period each day when he would be available for out-of-competition testing.

"We understand that Ruslan did not keep his whereabouts information fully up-to-date and was therefore not available for required testing. Ruslan has explained to us that it was inadvertent," said Swimming Canada Acting CEO Suzanne Paulins.

"Anti-doping regulations are in place to ensure a level playing field for all athletes, and we are committed to the enforcement and support of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP)."

Swimming Canada says Gaziev cooperated with all aspects of the process after being informed of the violation.

Gaziev had three confirmed "whereabouts failures" over a 12-month period, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport said Thursday in a statement.

Between January 2023 and August 2023, the CCES recorded two missed tests and one filing failure.

Gaziev swam in a heat for Canada in the men's 4x100-metre freestyle relay in Tokyo in 2021.

He also swam for the relay team that finished fifth at the 2023 world championship. Gaziev won three Commonwealth Games relay medals in 2022.

Gaziev didn't race in the Olympic and Paralympic swim trials that concluded Sunday in Toronto, nor did he compete for Ohio State in February's Big Ten Championship. Gaziev was in his fifth season with the Buckeyes.

Gaziev waived his right to a hearing, admitted the violations and accepted his period of ineligibility in January, the CCES said.

His suspension ends May 31, 2025. Until then, he can't participate in any sport that follows the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, including training with teammates.