In July 2009, the Russian cycling federation announced that Zakarin had been banned for two years after he had tested positive for the anabolic steroidmetandienone.
Early career
He came back from his ban in 2011 and in 2012 he got a contract with continental team. In the fall of 2012 he rode as a stagiaire with, but he was not picked up by the team and instead he got a contract with professional continental team, whom he rode for in 2013 and 2014. In September 2014 announced that they had signed Zakarin on an initial two-year deal from 2015.
2015 season
In April 2015 he finished ninth overall at the Tour of the Basque Country. At the beginning of May 2015, Zakarin took a prestigious victory; the general classification of the Tour de Romandie. He realized this feat thanks to a good performance in the mountains, finishing second in stage 4, and a very good time trial ride on the fifth and final stage, where he finished second even though he had to change his bike midway through the course due to some mechanical issues. Zakarin made his Grand Tour debut at the 2015 Giro d'Italia, where he won Stage 11 after attacking from a breakaway in heavy rain at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrariracing circuit in Imola.
2016 season
In 2016, Zakarin won Stage 6 of Paris–Nice atop La Madone d'Utelle ahead of Geraint Thomas and Alberto Contador. He finished the race fourth overall. Zakarin led Katusha at the Giro d'Italia. On Stage 19, whilst placed fifth overall, he crashed heavily on the descent of the Colle dell'Agnello, suffering a fractures to his left collarbone and shoulder and ending his race. Zakarin recovered from his injuries and was named in the start list for the Tour de France. Zakarin won Stage 17 of the race after bridging up to Rafał Majka and Jarlinson Pantano at the base of the day's final climb to Finhaut–Emosson, and attacking with six kilometres remaining to solo to stage victory.
2017 season
He started the season at the Volta a la Comunitat Valencianastage race, and continued by riding the Abu Dhabi Tour in which he finished 2nd. He finished 5th at the Giro d'Italia after finishing 2nd on three individual stages. On 10 July 2017, Zakarin renewed his contract with for two years. Zakarin finished in third place at the Vuelta a España; the last time a Russian stood on the podium was in 2007, when Denis Menchov won that race. Zakarin became Russian champion in the individual time trial during the season, and finished his season by representing Russia at the World Championships. He won the 2017 award for "Athlete of the year" in Tatarstan, and received the prize at the ceremony of athletes of the year of Tatarstan on 18 December at the Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan.
2018 season
He began the 2018 season at the Abu Dhabi Tour. He did not have any top 10 performances until the Critérium du Dauphiné where he finished 10th. He rode the 2018 Tour where he suffered a crash in the first week and survived the cobbles of stage 9 where many GC riders had a bad day, but he was outside the top 10 going into the 3rd week. The last two high mountain stages to Saint-Lary Soulon and Laruns were the highlight for Zakarin where he finished in 10th place on both, then placed 7th on the final ITT to ride into Paris in 9th place overall. Later in the year at the Vuelta he finished 20th.
Personal life
Zakarin is a native of Naberezhnye Chelny in the Tatarstan region of Russia, and lives in Cyprus. He is married to Viktoria, a nutritionist. The couple's first child, a daughter, Kristina, was born in 2016. His brother Aydar Zakarin is also a racing cyclist. He is a non-practising Muslim, he wears a crescent moon pendant, goes to mosque on occasion during the year and listens to Tatari music to remind him of home. He is also a book lover.
