Tokyo Olympian Valeriya Salamatina Banned For Two Years After Positive Drugs Test
Tokyo Olympian Valeriya Salamatina of Russia has been banned for two years after testing positive for furosemide, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has announced.
Salamatina produced an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance following an out-of-competition test on 9 March 2025 and has accepted the suspension which runs from 8 May 2025 to 7 May 2027. In addition, all her competitive results from 9 March 2025 are disqualified.
Furosemide is a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent and for rapid weight loss.
Salamatina won double silver at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow in the women’s and mixed 4×2 relays and swam the second leg of the 4×2 in Tokyo in 2021 where the quartet finished fifth under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
A statement from the ITA read:
“The ITA reports that the swimmer Valeriya Salamatina has agreed¹ to the consequences for her anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
“The swimmer provided a sample collected by the ITA during an unannouced out-of-competiton doping control performed on 9 March 2025, which yielded an adverse analytical finding² (AAF) for furosemide. Furosemide is listed under class S5 diuretics and masking agents according to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a specified substance. Furosemide can be used by athletes to excrete water for rapid weight loss.
“The athlete did not challenge the ADRV and agreed with the consequences proposed by the ITA. Accordingly, the case was resolved via and acceptance of consequences.
“The athlete’s period of ineligibility is from 8 May 2025 until 7 May 2027. In addition, all the athlete’s competitive results as from 9 March 2025 are disqualified.
“The decision may be challenged before the appeal division of the Court of Arbitration of Sport by the parties with a right of appeal in accordance with Article 13.2.3 of the World Aquatics anti-doping rules.
“The ITA will not comment further on this case.”
