M55 Aussie high jumper draws 4-year ban for Perth doping positive

Volodymyr Shelever of Australia won M55 high jump gold at 2016 Perth worlds, but Thursday the IAAF revealed he’s been suspended until 2021 after testing positive for a banned substance. An Aussie site says he had this in his system: 6b-hydroxymethandienone and 17b-hydroxymethyl-17a-methyl-18-norandrost-1_ 4_ 13-trien-3-one (metabolites of Methandienone). That’s a steroid sold as Dianabol. But it’s good news for South Africa’s Neal Bredeveldt, who moves up to the gold position, and American Tom Foley, who now is due a silver. Here’s what IAAF shares: “(Date of birth 25.05.1961) AUS In competition, in “World Masters Athletics Championships”, Perth, AUS 05.11.16 4 years ineligibility from 17.02.17-16.02.21 From 05.11.16.” This reminds me of Chaunte Lowe, the W30 who moved up from sixth to third in the 2008 Beijing high jump results after three Russians ahead of her were caught doping eventually. That an Aussie was a offender is happy news for WMA President Stan Perkins, a fellow Oz-man. It proves Stan is powerless to protect a countryman (thus showing he has no control over who gets drug-tested). But the embarrassment stings.

Volodymyr jumps at October 2016 meet. Anyone know how to contact the gent?

Here’s more about Volodymyr, a Ukrainian who became an Australian citizen just before Perth worlds:

An athlete who was made an Australian citizen a week ago, has broken an Alice Springs Masters Games record for high jump.

Volodymyr Shelever cleared 1.64m yesterday, eclipsing the Games record of 1.5m in the 55-59 age division.

The 55-year-old who originally hails from Ukraine decided to compete for the first time at the Alice Springs Games as a “bit of fun”.

“The competition here is on grass. I normally jump on a combination of grass and track surface,” he said.

“I haven’t been training because I have had a back injury so I am happy with the jump.”

Shelever was a professional athlete for 10 years in the Ukraine. He attended the South Australian Masters Games in 2007, where he took out an Australian record with a jump of 1.84m for the over-45 year category.

He is now a lifeguard in Sydney and also coaches high jump at several schools, including Scots College.

Shelever said he has enjoyed his experience in Alice Springs.

“It’s a very good Games,” he said.

“The people are nice; the place is nice; everything is nice.

“I think I might come back in two years.”

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November 16, 2017

5 Responses

  1. Terry Parks - November 19, 2017

    I am happy for Tom but very surprised by Volodymyr’s doping. It makes one wonder who else is doping. Four years is a long time for a Masters athlete to be out, so perhaps he will learn his lesson and come back chasten or not come back at all.

  2. Michael D Walker - November 19, 2017

    The drug issue is more complex for us masters athletes but at the same time, it appears that there may be a number of masters intentionally doping. Until recently, there were few drug tests administered for masters and the lack of testing may have convinced some to try PEDS as there was little chance of being caught.

  3. Mats Nagle - November 22, 2017

    Hi, I was no 5 now no 4, but my Finish Friend
    Lauri Lindberg was no 4 now bronzemedalist.

    I hope he will get the medal.
    latelind@hotmail.com

    All the best
    Mats M55 Highjumper

  4. Steve Jones - March 26, 2018

    Ukrainian huh? Perhaps old habits die hard.
    Four years suspension is no problem in masters competition. Think about it….everyone aims to perform big when their next “divisible by five” birthday ticks over. Then its a five year wait til “next time”.
    How does he get banned ;for four years from a meet in October 2016, when he is listed as the Australian record holder at 1.75m in 2017 in the same 55-59 category?!

  5. Neal Bredeveldt - October 15, 2018

    Hi, I only just came across this article right now. When I received the news, and subsequently, the Gold Medal, I was only excited for about 10 minutes. I had the whole Medal Ceremony video taped as this was a lifetime dream come true. Only to realise that I should have been standing on top of the podium, listening to the South African anthem.

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