London 2012 Olympics: Russian cyclist sent home after failing drug test

Published on 04/08/2012 00:00

Russian track cyclist Victoria Baranova has been sent home from the Olympic Games after testing positive for testosterone.

Cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, confirmed the 22-year-old, a European individual sprint bronze medallist, would take no part in London 2012.

Baranova was one of three Russian women selected to compete in cycling at the Games, and had been due to race in the keirin yesterday.

But the UCI said: “She is already home. She was sent home by her National Olympic Committee yesterday morning.”

Baranova, who is coached by her father Alexey Baranov, has been on the international circuit for four years. She has collected bronze medals in three World Cup team sprint events, and one in the individual sprint in Cali, Colombia, last December.

In July last year, she was crowned European under-23 keirin champion.