Larisa Antonova Receives Doping Ban
Russian athlete Larisa Antonova has been disqualified for an anti-doping rule violation. A sample she provided in May 2025 at the World Masters Games tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium. Consequently, all her results from that competition have been nullified. Meldonium, a heart medication, has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2016 due to its potential performance-enhancing effects.
Antonova, now 58 years old, is a two-time European Cup winner in canoe marathon in the masters category. Her victories in 2021 came in two events:
- the mixed C2 race for the 35-49 age group;
- the women's K1 race for the 40-54 age group.
The athlete has acknowledged the anti-doping violation.
Upholding Anti-Doping Standards in Masters Sports
Antonova's disqualification underscores the critical importance of maintaining anti-doping integrity across all levels of sport, including masters competitions. This case may impact public trust in veteran sports and raises questions about the consistency of doping controls in these disciplines. As a prominent figure in her sport, Antonova now faces the challenge of rebuilding her career and reputation following this incident.