Nagoya, Japan, September 26, 2026: The International Testing Agency has notified Turkmenistan karate athlete Dayanch Keletliyev of an apparent anti-doping rule violation at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
The ITA works on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia and reports that a sample collected from the athlete has returned an adverse analytical finding for the non-specified prohibited substance Meldonium.
Meldonium is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. It is also prohibited at all times (in and out of competition) and classified as a non-specified substance.
Meldonium may enhance sports performance by improving endurance and recovery through increased oxygen uptake and energy metabolism.
The sample was collected by the ITA during an out-of-competition anti-doping control on 20 September 2026 in Japan.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD).
The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.