Long jump world leader reported to have failed a doping test in February

World-leading long jumper Svetlana Biryukova has been provisionally suspended from competition after failing a doping test, the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA has said.

According to RUSADA, Biryukova – who twice recorded the world-leading mark of 6.98m in January and won the Russian indoor championships with 6.75m in February – returned a positive test from a sample taken from her on February 26.

The athlete, pictured above competing under her maiden name of Denyaeva, will be banned from competition and training camps while a final decision is made.

Biryukova first leapt 6.98m in Russia on January 12 before managing the same mark at another meet in her home country on January 25. Her world lead added more than 20 centimetres to her previous indoor best. The 22-year-old had been due to compete at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot but was a late withdrawal.

On Friday RUSADA also confirmed the temporary suspension of sprinter Roman Semakin who is also said to have tested positive for a banned substance following a sample taken on February 26.

The post Russia’s Svetlana Biryukova suspended appeared first on Athletics Weekly.