Ensuring fairness and transparency in Kurash, protecting athletes’ health, and the fight against doping are among the important tasks facing the International Sports Community. For this purpose, the International Kurash Association (IKA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) regularly conduct control measures in order to provide a clear and clean sport.
In this regard, recent analyses have revealed that two well-known athletes have violated doping rules.
A sample taken from the well-known Kazakh kurash athlete, 2023 World Champion and former judoka Abilkaiyr Maulenin at the final stage of the World Series Pro competition on December 17, 2024, tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid exogenous testosterone.
As is well known, testosterone is included in section S1.1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list — Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, which is a prohibited substance in any case. This substance gives the athlete an unfair advantage by artificially increasing muscle mass and physical strength.
Abilkaiyr Maulenin is currently provisionally suspended from competition and has the right to request analysis of sample B. If sample B also tests positive or if he refuses analysis, it will be officially recorded as a doping violation. The case is being handled by the ITA. The athlete also reserves the right to appeal the provisional suspension.
As a result if the B sample is not requested for , Abilkaiyr Maulenin may lose his gold medal, certificate, and prize money. It is worth noting that a total of 15 participants were tested for doping at this competition.
In another case, Egyptian athlete Mariam Hamdi Mostafa was suspended for two years after furosemide was detected in a sample she submitted during the African Championships in Cairo on July 9, 2023.
Furosemide is a diuretic and masking agent listed as a permanently banned substance in section S5 of the WADA. It is often used by athletes to achieve short-term weight loss or to conceal other banned substances.
Mostafa admitted to the violation, and as a result, the ITA banned her from competing from May 5, 2025, to May 4, 2027. All results from July 9, 2023, were also officially annulled. This decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The ITA stated that it would not comment further on these cases, regardless of whether they are ongoing or completed.
These cases mark another serious and concrete step in the fight against doping in the sport of Kurash. The International Kurash Association and the International Testing Agency continue their efforts to ensure fair sport and fair competition in this fiels.
