Mariya Savinova


Mariya Sergeyevna Savinova is a Russian former athlete who specialized in the 800 metres. In 2017, she was found guilty of doping, was suspended from competition for four years, and had three years of results nullified, removing the bulk of her elite career including an Olympic gold medal.

Career

Savinova was born in Chelyabinsk. In 2009, she became the European indoor champion in the 800 m and the World indoor champion one year later. She originally was awarded gold medals at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu and the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Doping suspension

In December 2014, a documentary aired on German TV in which Savinova admitted to using the anabolic steroid oxandrolone. She said, "Oxandrolone is very quickly out of my body again. It takes less than 20 days. We have tested that. My husband has very good contacts at the doping control laboratory."
In November 2015, Savinova was one of five Russian runners the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended to receive a lifetime ban for doping during the London Olympics, along with Ekaterina Poistogova.
On 10 February 2017, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year ban for Savinova and nullified her results from July 2010 to August 2013, stripping her of the medals she was awarded during that time.

Competition record