The International Canoe Federation postponed taking a decision in the case of Sergey Tarnovski for two weeks. The athlete, together with his lawyer Paul Greene, took part in a hearing in Baku on November 27, where they presented evidence showing the banned substance was used unintentionally as this is contained in a contaminated nutritive supplement, IPN reports.

In a news conference organized by the National Olympic and Sports Committee on November 28, it was explained that given that a contaminated product contained the banned substance, Sergey Tarnovski faces a milder punishment in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and, most probably, he will keep the bronze medal won at the Rio Olympics this summer.

The law stipulates a suspension penalty of zero to eight months. The rules concerning the keeping of the Olympic medal are also clear as his guiltiness level is reduced and his dope test at the Olympic Games, after he won the bronze, was negative.