The International Testing Agency has alleged that Ukrainian weightlifter Dmytro Chumak attempted to evade an out of competition drugs test, including by attempting to bribe the Doping Control Officers involved.
Chumak is a two-times European champion in the M109 category (2019, 2021) and has two world total medals to his name. He finished fourth at the 2019 World Championships.
The allegations relate to an ITA testing mission on 6th May 2021. As a result of what happened that day, Chumak is charged with several anti-doping rule violations:
- Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance)
- Article 2.3 (Evading and Refusing Sample Collection)
- Article 2.5 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control)
His coach, Matsokha Mykhailo, is also charged with tampering or attempted tampering, along with a charge under Article 2.9 (Complicity or Attempted complicity involving an ADRV).
Chumak ranks highly enough in M109 to be offered a place at the Tokyo Olympics in July but he is now provisionally suspended. Whether he can take up that place will depend on him appealing the charge and the case being settled in time.
Update – Chumak Responds
Chumak has posted a response on his Instagram (in Russian). Translated into English, it reads:
The most corrupt organization in the world, the ITA (International Testing Agency), has accused me of anti-doping rule violation. However, doping was not found. Also attributed to attempted bribery ??? That’s how we live