Coach Kazarin is an influential and senior coach in Russian athletics. Through Stepanova’s secret recordings, which have been corroborated by various methods detailed below, the IC has determined that Kazarin had a well-developed practice and strategy of administering PEDs to athletes, as well as knowledge about the Russian athletics regime’s failure to understand the ABP. Below are excerpts from the secret recordings that document the extent of Kazarin’s participation in systematic administration of doping athletes.
Kazarin became Stepanova’s coach following the 2012 Olympics. Almost immediately after taking the position, Kazarin discussed with Stepanova the use of PEDs in her training64 and he suggested that “HGH” would be an additional boost for her training
and competition results. Consequently, from November 2012, Stepanova supplemented her training regime with Oxanabol and Primobol, both anabolic steroid tablets. Stepanova further received two bottles of Oxandrolone and one bottle of Methenolone Acetate from Kazarin.
Stepanova maintained these bottles of tablets provided by Kazarin in her possession and during the investigation she subsequently gave them to the WADA Chief Investigative Officer, Jack Robertson. Robertson requested a drug analysis examination of these tablets at the Salt Lake City, WADA accredited anti-doping laboratory in the United States. The laboratory determine that the contents of each plastic bottle were as follows65:
Bottle A:
Blue Tablets: Oxandrolone
Orange Circular Tablet: Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone
Orange Square Tablet: Oxandrolone
Pink Square Tablet: Mestanalone
Bottle B:
White Square Tablet: Methenolone Acetate
Bottle C:
Pink Square tablet: Oxandrolone
Each of the above substances is classified as a prohibited item under Code S1, listed Anabolic Agent.
On 13 February 2013, Stepanova secretly recorded a conversation she had with Kazarin at the CSK Moscow Stadium where the Russian Championships were being held.66 The
subject of this conversation was the necessity of abandoning the practice of using EPO given the unexpected efficacy of the ABP. In the recording Kazarin stated:
“The fact is that when these biological passports were introduced, nobody thought it would end like this, that they would make these schedules, make examinations. Now they are going to examine everybody – 100%. So we have all 95 of our people closely watched. Just imagine… However, you know there are some criteria that allow us to question this. So not all 95 people will have to leave. But from now on… we had a meeting. So there will be no more red blood. If you want to live, if you want to compete, this question is closed. Remember, we discussed it for the first time and you were in panic. But you
66 Kazarin Audio dated 20130208, Audio dated 20130213, Audio dated 20140217, Video dated 20141017,
prepared without all this and you were in good condition. You didn’t use anything then.”
and continued,
“Without Anabol and the stuff… and you were running faster than [another athlete – name removed] who was already on the “nutrition.”
Stepanova informed IC investigators that Kazarin had been telling her that with the screening of ABP, some athletes had to stop using EPO to survive in the sport due to tighter doping controls. Stepanova confirmed that Kazarin’s reference to “Anabol” meant anabolic steroids, banned substances in tablet form, which Kazarin gave to his athletes for the winter season. However, Kazarin had knowledge that Stepanova might be disqualified in the winter season, and as a result told her to stop taking the tablets due to ABP testing, despite having already supplied her with tablets in preparation for the winter season. Stepanova passed these samples on to the IC investigators.
On 17 February 2014, Stepanova secretly recorded another meeting with Kazarin, this time at the Russian Athletics Championships, where she asked Kazarin about returning to competition. Kazarin informed her that it was harder now because of the “draconian law,” meaning that it was harder to conceal the use of prohibited substances.
In this lengthy conversation, Kazarin demonstrated his level of knowledge of PEDs and encouraged their use, and described the complexity within Russian sport. Kazarin detailed how the ABP testing has given them severe problems in avoiding detection, “[w]e cannot take anything, almost nothing.” Kazarin added later, “[f]irst not in WADA list…but…even if you are not in the list…you cannot go anywhere…only here inside (a reference to Russia)…. possible that even here they can take you”.
The IC assumes that the “WADA list’’ Kazarin refers to in the recording is a copy of the IAAF’s list of Russian athletes who tested positive for suspicious ABP levels. This specific IAAF list was an internal IAAF document and should not have been disclosed to anyone outside of the IAAF, and definitely not to Russian coaches. As previously
noted, the IC cannot comment on the unauthorised disclosure of the IAAF list further since it has referred this matter to law enforcement authorities for further investigation. On 10 November 2014, Stepanova visited Kazarin in his room at the Kapriz Hotel, Chalpan Ata, Kyrgyzstan, a location used by the National Team as a training base. The conversation was secretly recorded and filmed by Stepanova.
Kazarin began the conversation by asking what preparation Stepanova will use, implying a program of PEDs. She replied that she wasn‘t sure. Kazarin responded by saying that he wasn‘t either. He thought she could go without, but asked if she needed support. A discussion followed regarding Stepanova’s previous training regime, in which Stepanova told Kazarin her regime included pills, EPO and testosterone. Kazarin advised against the use of testosterone and suggested EPO. As the conversation continued Kazarin stated the following:
“That is why we only have oxandrolone and primabolan and, at some point in the early stages, just a little, you can do a few ampoules of EPO, of course. But make sure there are no checks at the time, nothing like that, to make sure you don’t move out of the corridor.”
The IC believes that the reference to “the corridor” likely relates to the ABP blood levels against which athletes are tested.
Demonstrating his knowledge of blood levels, Kazarin discusses with Stepanova that her “levels will not jump that high.”
Further on, they discussed her previous “doping” treatment received from Portugalov. Kazarin, responded that they do not use him, because “he forgets everything.”
STEPANOVA: Probably because he has too many people. When I was
visiting him, he had people from swimming – coaches and athletes, other kinds of sport, cross country skiers... He has too many people and so is apparently forgetting things.
KAZARIN: Well, that is why we do it…without him.
The IC notes that Kazarin does not register surprise at the number of sports personnel under Portugalov’s programs, and in fact confirmed the opposite, that they have their own programs. This evidences to a degree that this practice is not concentrated only in athletics, but is widespread across the whole of Russian sports.
In the recording, Kazarin offers Stepanova ten tablets, and explains the program of administering such pills in training:
KAZARIN: You’ll start taking them, let’s say starting about Wednesday.
What date will that be? Today is the 10th. So it will be the 12th.
STEPANOVA: Until the 22?
KAZARIN: Yes, until the 22. One pill contains 1mg. and then, until
[inaudible] shouldn’t do anything. So that is 40-45 days to get clean. That is, if you finish on the 22, then around the beginning of January or so, you should already be nice and clean. So, in theory, you can actually even do 15 days. How does that work out? Let’s check the calendar.
The conversation continues at:
STEPANOVA: The main thing, for me, is to make sure I do a doping check
before the 28th.
KAZARIN: Do you get stiff muscles (“krepatit”) from it? Do you know? Do
you remember?
STEPANOVA: What is it that you are giving me?
KAZARIN: Oxandrolone
There is then further discussion and Stepanova asks:
STEPANOVA: What about those that are detectable for 20 days? Do we have
any of those left?
KAZARIN: Of course, not. Now, Primabolan has the shortest time, at about
30-35 days. 20 days, really! What are you thinking? Science keeps moving ahead.
While Kazarin is preparing the tablets, he explains how Stepanova should take them, one a day, under the tongue. Kazarin then provides fifteen tablets to Stepanova, which Stepanova was able to capture on video. Kazarin’s prescribing and delivering fifteen
tablets corroborates his earlier comments that he will prepare enough for her to take over fifteen days which would enable her to be clean for the doping tests.
After providing the tablets to Stepanova, Kazarin then asks if she needed a syringe, showing her one. She replied yes. At the end of their meeting, Stepanova thanks Kazarin for the “candy” and Kazarin could be seen smiling in response.
On 11 November 2014, Stepanova secretly recorded a conversation with Kazarin following a weight training session at Lake Issikul in the Kapris area. Kazarin made the following comment: “Now you will start the course and everything will grow.” This comment demonstrates a clear reference to the taking, use and results of steroids.
A forensic examination was conducted by an accredited laboratory on the tablets supplied by Kazarin to Stepanova. They were found to be Oxandrolone, a prohibited substance under WADA Code S1 Anabolic Agent.67