Medal hope Dykun faces sanctions after failing drugs test

Dykun, viewed as one of Team GB’s most promising medal hopes for the London 2012 Olympic Games, was suspended today by the organisation after failing a dope test.

The 29-year-old Commonwealth Games champion will now undergo a B test and if the results also prove positive, the Greco-Roman wrestler can expect to receive at least a two-year ban.

“We would have rather this news emerge at the conclusion of the UK anti-doping agency process but suffice to say our organisation will come down hard on the wrestler, as we will any wrestler who takes drugs,” British
Wrestling chief executive Colin Nicholson said.

“It goes without saying that we are extremely disappointed. As an organisation British Wrestling does not, and will not, tolerate any such behaviour from a member of our organisation.”

Dykun has been suspended from competition and has had all his funding cut pending the outcome of the B test.

The Ukrainian-born wrestler, who came to Great Britain in 2003 originally as a sparring partner, has missed recent Olympic qualifying events in China and Bulgaria and will also be absent from this week’s qualifier in Helsinki.

If found guilty of doping Dykun, who competes in the 66kg category, will miss London 2012.

Nicholson added: “We are working closely with the relevant authorities, and we fully support the drug testing programme put in place in this country.

“Indeed, that we are working so closely with them is evidence of our determination to root out anyone who uses banned substances, be it for recreational or performance-enhancing purposes.”

Dykun moved to Britain nine years ago as part of British Wrestling’s controversial initiative to get eastern European athletes to help homegrown wrestlers develop into medal prospects.

British Wrestling insisted that the athletes would only be sparring partners before performing a controversial U-turn by permitting them to compete for Britain.

The organisation is set to name its Olympics squad on May 10.