Three year ban confirmed for Kigali World Championship rider as UCI closes Methamfetamine case

The case that cast a shadow over the junior men’s road race at the 2025 Road World Championships in Kigali has now reached its conclusion. The Union Cycliste Internationale has confirmed that Azerbaijani rider Artyom Proskuryakov has been handed a three-year ban following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, bringing an end to proceedings that began with a provisional suspension last autumn.

Proskuryakov first came under scrutiny after returning an adverse analytical finding during the World Championships, where two samples collected on 23 September tested positive for Methamfetamine (D-) and its metabolites.

At the time, the UCI imposed a provisional suspension pending assessment under its anti-doping framework.

That process has now resulted in a definitive sanction. The UCI confirmed that Proskuryakov “has been sanctioned with a three-year period of ineligibility” following the violation, with the ban already in force. According to the governing body, “the period of ineligibility started on 18 November 2025 and is effective until 17 November 2028”.

The length of the ban underlines the seriousness with which the case has been treated. Methamfetamine (D-) is listed under class S6.A of the Prohibited List, covering non-specified stimulants that are banned in competition, a category that carries limited scope for mitigation once a violation is established.

Rather than proceeding to a full disciplinary hearing, the UCI confirmed that “the case has been resolved by way of an acceptance of consequences as provided for by the Code and the UCI ADR”, a mechanism that allows proceedings to be concluded once responsibility is accepted. With that step taken, the federation stated it “will not comment any further”.

The verdict closes a case that stood out not only because of the substance involved, but also because it emerged at a global championship and within the junior ranks. A three-year period of ineligibility effectively removes Proskuryakov from several key development seasons, with the ban running deep into what would normally be a decisive transition phase from junior to senior racing.

The UCI also reiterated that its anti-doping programme has been delegated to the International Testing Agency since January 2021, with the ITA Cycling Unit leading clean sport efforts across all disciplines, while the UCI retains responsibility for results management and the prosecution of violations.

With the sanction now confirmed and the timeline fixed through to late 2028, the case moves from investigation to consequence. For junior cycling, it serves as a reminder that anti-doping controls and penalties apply with the same force at World Championship level, regardless of age or category.