Recall that in February of this year, the international biathlon Union recognized Ustyugov guilty of using anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, and deprived of his awards, including a gold medal win in the relay at the Olympics in Sochi. The charges were based on an abnormally elevated level of hemoglobin in the blood of an athlete.
“we were approached By the lawyers of the athlete to determine whether his DNA is the unique genetic characteristics that determine an increased hemoglobin levels, because elevated levels of it constantly,” – said Thursday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Director of the Institute of molecular biology. V. A. Engelgardt, Aleksandr Makarov.
Scientists have determined all of the genes of Ustyugov and his parents to perform correct search genetic characteristics.
“And what happened? In the three most important genes and associated with an increase in hemoglobin, have been identified rare mutations that define an elevated hemoglobin level. And thus the constantly elevated level of hemoglobin at this famous athlete is due to its unique genetic features,” – said Makarov.
“these genetic data allowed us to raise the question of the withdrawal of the charges and will be used by lawyers in the process anti-doping panel of the court of arbitration for sport”, he added.
the Head of state thanked the scientists for athletes. “She’s more than ever. I think it would be a powerful argument in the dialogue on this issue,” he said.
