Anna Vozakova has become the latest volleyball player to have represented Russia at London 2012 to be banned for doping ©Getty Images

Another Russian volleyball player who competed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London has been banned after being caught following evidence provided by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Moscow.

Former beach volleyball player Anna Vozakova has been banned for two-years, Russia’s official state news agency TASS reported.

She joins Dmitry Ilinikh, Aleksandr Butko and Dmitry Muserskiy, members of Russia’s Olympic gold medal-winning men’s volleyball team from London 2012, to be banned as a result of evidence obtained by WADA from the Laboratory Information Management System database recovered from Moscow.

Unlike the three male players, whose positive tests all came after London 2012, Vozakova’s results at the Olympics could be in danger as she tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine at the CEV Continental Cup final in Moscow a few weeks before the Games opened in the United Kingdom capital.

Anna Vozakova, left, and Anastasia Vasina, right, were the first Russian players to compete in beach volleyball at the Olympics when they qualified for London 2012 ©Getty Images
Anna Vozakova, left, and Anastasia Vasina, right, were the first Russian players to compete in beach volleyball at the Olympics when they qualified for London 2012 ©Getty Images

Vozakova partnered Anastasia Vasina at London 2012 when they became the first Russian players to compete in beach volleyball at the Olympic Games.

After causing an upset by beating China’s Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in the group matches, they reached the last 16 before being knocked out by Austrian sisters Doris Schwaiger and Stefanie Schwaiger.

The All-Russian Volleyball Federation (VVF) reported that the 33-year-old Vozakova has now retired from competition.

Vozakova’s two-year suspension officially started in January 2022 and is due to end on January 11 in 2024.

"Vozakova, just like Dmitry Ilinykh, was on the list of Grigory Rodchenkov," a spokesperson for the VVF told TASS.

Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow, has provided evidence that has led to several Russian volleyball players being banned for doping ©Getty Images
Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow, has provided evidence that has led to several Russian volleyball players being banned for doping ©Getty Images

Rodchenkov exposed the Russian Government's involvement in a state-sponsored doping programme after fleeing the country in 2015.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) today confirmed that resolution had been reached with WADA in the case involving Vozakova.

"The case is part of investigations that the FIVB started after WADA provided data and information related to test samples collected from the Moscow Laboratory," FIVB said in a statement on its website.

"According to the case resolution agreement, the player admitted that she committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.2 of the FIVB Medical Regulations 2011."

The FIVB has so far refused to comment on the case involving Ilinikh.

But they added: "The FIVB is committed to protecting fair play and clean athletes, and maintains a zero-tolerance approach to doping."