In March this year, one of Ukraine’s most authoritative legal newspapers — “Zakon i Biznes” — covered the story of our high-profile victory in a doping case that lasted nearly two years.
It all began in 2022, when the mother of a minor swimmer approached us. During a competition, her daughter underwent doping control for the first time. The results came as a shock — the “A” sample revealed the presence of a prohibited substance. For a young athlete at the very beginning of her career, this meant facing a potential four-year period of ineligibility.
We analyzed the case in detail and demonstrated that the prohibited substance had entered her body through a medication taken for medical treatment. We also relied on mitigating factors — her age, medical condition, lack of anti-doping education, and the fact that this was her first violation.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) agreed: the period of ineligibility was reduced from four years to 18 months. Importantly, by the time the decision was issued, this period had already expired, allowing the athlete to return to professional sport without any additional restrictions.
The case was handled by our sports law team: attorneys Ganna Gnizdovska, Nadiia Gnizdovska, and lawyer Daria Stepanova.
📄 The publication is available on the “Zakon i Biznes” website: read the article