MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. The International Biathlon and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has ruled to suspend from all sports-related activities until 2020 Alexander Zubkov, the president of the Russian Bobsleigh Federation (RBF), citing violations of anti-doping regulations, the IBSF announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The IBSF also stated that three Russian bobsledders, namely Alexander Kasyanov, Ilvir Khuzin and Alexei Pushkarev, have been also slapped with suspensions until 2020 for violating anti-doping rules.

"On January 3rd, 2019 the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federationґs (IBSF) Anti-Doping Hearing Panel (ADHP)…, conducted an expedited final hearing in the presence of Mr. Alexander Zubkov, Mr. Alexander Kasyanov, Mr. Ilvir Khuzin and Mr. Alexei Pushkarev," the statement said.

"The ADHP came to the conclusion that Mr. Alexander Kasyanov, Mr. Ilvir Khuzin, Mr. Alexei Pushkarev and Mr. Alexander Zubkov have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the use of a Prohibited Substance and the Use of a Prohibited Method (i.e. urine substitution)… These violations are for each of the Athletes regarded as one single violation…"

"For the ADRVs mentioned above Mr. Alexander Kasyanov, Mr. Ilvir Khuzin, Mr. Alexei Pushkarev and Mr. Alexander Zubkov will each be sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of two years, starting from the day of their provisional suspension, for the first 3 Athletes mentioned this being December 13, 2018, therefore ending on December 12, 2020, for Mr Zubkov this being December 19, 2018 and therefore ending on December 18,2020, during which period they are not entitled to participate in any competition or activity."

The world’s governing body of bobsleigh and skeleton added in its statement that "The term ‘activity’ also includes, for example, administrative activities, such as serving as an official, director, officer, employee, or volunteer of the national organizations."

Zubkov wrapped up with his sports career in 2014 and is currently holding the post of the president of the Russian Bobsleigh Federation. The IOC Disciplinary Commission, chaired by Denis Oswald, announced in 2017 that Zubkov was guilty of anti-doping rules violations.

The Oswald-led commission ruled to annul his results from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, namely the gold in the two-man’s bobsleigh event and the gold in the four-man’s bobsleigh event. The IOC commission also ordered a life-timer ban for Zubkov from all Olympic activities.

Zubkov appealed the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland’s Lausanne and it was partly upheld as the Swiss-based court ruled against his life-time ban.