Kazakhstani swimmer Elmira Aigaliyeva has been suspended for two years dating to October 3rd, 2014 by the National Anti-Doping Centre of Kazakhstan, the organization announced this month. The Kazakhstan center is one of the newest in global sport, having officially started operating in 2012.
Aigaliyeva tested positive to Testosterone and its metabolites in a test on July 17th at the Open Championships of the Republic of Belarus in Brest, according to FINA.
Prior to the announcement, Kazakhstan’s swimming community was riding high after winning 5 medals, including a sweep of the men’s breaststrokes from Dmitriy Balandin, at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
This doping test will cast a pall over that success, however, as Aigaliyeva competed at the Asian Games even after the positive test in July. The 22-year placed 6th in the 50 fly, 7th in the 100 fly, and 10th in both the 50 free and 100 frees at the meet.
At the Belarusian championships (in short course meters) where she tested positive, Aigaliyeva won three medals: bronze in the 50 free (25.45), silver in the 100 fly (59.37), and gold in the 100 IM (1:01.69).
Her personal bests in long course include a 26.2 in the 50 free, a 55.8 in the 100 free, and a 59.4 in the 100 fly. In all, she had a much better season in 2013 than she did in 2014, when the positive test came. That included breaking multiple National Records at the 2013 World Championships.