Russian ski racing champion Parfenov was suspended for meldonium

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has imposed a three-year disqualification on three-time Russian champion in cross-country skiing Andrey Parfenov for violating anti-doping rules. This was reported on November 6 on the website of the agency's press service.

It is specified that the disqualification of an athlete who was found to have meldonium in a doping test came into force on October 14, 2025, and it will last for three years.

"The Commission <...> decided to disqualify athlete Andrey Parfenov (sport – cross-country skiing) <...>, starting from the date of the decision, namely from October 14, 2025, taking into account the time served, namely from September 22, 2025," the message says.

Parfenov became the Russian sprint champion twice (in 2015 and 2019), and also won the national team sprint championship in 2019. He also competed in the World Championships and finished fourth in the team sprint in 2009.

Suspicious test: details of the doping scandal involving Spartak hockey player Morozov

The fourth case of a positive sample from a KHL team player in a year has been recorded.

Earlier, on September 16, the forward of the Spartak Moscow hockey club, Ivan Morozov, was temporarily suspended from matches due to a banned substance found in a doping sample of a hockey player.

Later, on October 28, the athlete confessed to using a prohibited substance out of competition. According to the hockey player, traces of cocaine were found in his doping test. On November 1, RUSADA reduced Morozov's suspension to one month.

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