The International Canoe Federation has announced a four-year suspension for Uzbekistan canoe sprint athlete Nikolay Lipkin, a former Russian athlete who returned to competition in 2019 after a five-year break.

34-year-old Lipkin tested positive to the banned anabolic steroids drostanolone and boldenone following an in-competition test during the second ICF canoe sprint world cup in Duisburg, Germany, in May.

Lipkin was competing in the men’s C2 500, in which they finished sixth. It was Lipkin’s first appearance for Uzbekistan after more than a decade of competing for Russia. His last event before 2019 was as part of Russia’s gold-medal winning men’s C1 4x200 relay team.

He also won C2 200 European and world cup gold medals for Russia.

The four-year ban will end on June 27, 2023. Lipkin has 21 days to appeal the decision.

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