Lange Sperre droht – Judo-Weltmeister vor EM mit positivem Doping-Test!
Russian judo world champion Matvei Kanikovski has been provisionally suspended ahead of the European Championships in Tbilisi following a positive doping test, according to multiple verified reports.
The International Testing Agency confirmed the adverse analytical finding, leading to the athlete’s removal from the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Rankings and withdrawal from the Russian team for the upcoming continental championship.
Kanikovski, who captured the world title in the men’s under-100 kilogram division at the 2025 World Championships in Budapest, had been a consistent performer on the World Judo Tour, earning bronze medals at recent Grand Slam events in Tokyo and Tashkent.
His sudden absence from the IJF rankings, first reported on April 13, 2026, raised immediate concerns within the judo community, with experts noting such actions are typically associated with anti-doping rule violations.
The International Judo Federation has not issued an official statement regarding the specific circumstances, but the timing coincides with the European Championships, which began on April 16, 2026, in Tbilisi, Georgia.
As a result of the suspension, Niiaz Bilalov has been called up to replace Kanikovski on the Russian squad for the European Championships, where he will compete in the same weight class.
Even as the duration of any potential sanction remains pending the full adjudication process, anti-doping violations in international judo often carry suspensions ranging from two to four years for a first offense, depending on the substance involved and circumstances.
The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of Russia’s compliance with international anti-doping regulations, particularly given the country’s current status under restrictions from major international sporting bodies.
For now, the judo world awaits official confirmation from the International Testing Agency and the International Judo Federation regarding the next steps in the proceedings against the reigning world champion.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates as this story develops.
