MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian high jumper Ivan Ukhov faces a one-year ban after competing in last week’s Lausanne grand prix while drunk.
"It’s a shame. By competing in such a condition he has disgraced all Russian track and field athletes," Russia athletics head coach Valentin Maslakov told reporters on Tuesday. "I will ask our athletics federation to suspend Ukhov for a year."
Organisers at the Lausanne grand prix asked Ukhov to pull out of the competition after he failed to clear the opening height.
Ukhov’s manager Pavel Voronkov said personal problems had led to the 22-year-old’s bizarre performance.
"There’s no denying that Ivan was drunk but he had a fight with his girlfriend and was also upset at failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics," Voronkov was quoted as saying by Russian media.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
"Obviously, Ivan regrets it very much and we have already reimbursed the organisers for all their expenses. He is still young and it should be a good lesson for him but a year ban would just completely destroy him as an athlete."
Ukhov’s future is likely to be decided at the Russian athletics federation’s executive board meeting this month.
He is one of Russia’s top young high jumpers along with Olympic champion Andrei Silnov
(Reporting by Gennady Fyodorov; Editing by John Mehaffey)
