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Olympic athlete Olekh has been banned for 10 months for doping

Olympic athlete Olekh has been banned for 10 months for doping

Katerina Melnychenko Deputy Editor-in-Chief

08 April 2026, 10:30

Olympic athlete Olekh has been banned for 10 months for doping — Skiier Viktoria Olekh has been disqualified for doping

Ukrainian skier Viktoria Olekh, who competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, has been suspended for 10 months for breaching anti-doping rules. The NADC’s list states that canrenone was detected in her sample, and the suspension period runs from 18 March 2026 to 17 January 2027.

This is according to data from the National Anti-Doping Centre of Ukraine.

Viktoria Olekh was included in the NADCU’s list of suspended athletes as of 1 April 2026. In the official document, she is listed as a cross-country skier, and next to her surname is the substance canrenone, as well as the period of suspension – from 18 March 2026 to 17 January 2027.

The sporting context has also been confirmed. Suspilne Sport and TSN, citing the National Anti-Doping Centre of Ukraine (NADCU), report that this specifically concerns a 10-month suspension following a positive doping test. Both publications also clarify that canrenone is a prohibited substance. On the WADA list, canrenone and acetazolamide are listed among diuretics and masking agents.

Olekh is a participant in the 2022 Winter Olympics. According to Olympedia and Olympics.com, she competed in five disciplines in Beijing, with her best personal result being 58th place in the 30 km race. Suspilne Sport clarifies that this was a 30 km freestyle mass start.

There are also a few more confirmed details about her recent competitions. According to Suspilne, Olech last competed in September 2025 in Predazzo, Italy, where she finished 11th in the mass start. She also competed in five World Cup stages during the 2024/25 season, with her best result being 52nd place in the sprint in Coni in February 2025.

The same WADA list includes another Ukrainian athlete – rower Oksana Golub. The official document states that she has been suspended for acetazolamide for the period from 6 March 2026 to 5 July 2027.

As a reminder, reigning Olympic champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak fought his first bout in the professional ring. During the "Rising Stars" boxing event, the Ukrainian secured a victory by knockout against the Colombian William Baron.

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