The 29-year-old Greco-Roman wrestler, originally from Ukraine, has been suspended after testing positive for amphetamines, British Wrestling have admitted.

"I can confirm that he has failed his A sample," British Wrestling's chief executive Colin Nicholson said. 

"The drug was amphetamines."

Dykun won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the 66kg category, representing England.

He will now miss the Games if his B-test returns positive, and has already been banned from competing and had his funding stopped.

"He is immediately suspended from competition and funding," Nicholson added.

"Under no circumstances do we condone drug-taking in any form - whether it be recreational or performance-enhancing.

"British Wrestling will not tolerate such behaviour from anyone

"This is evidence that we are determined to work in partnership to root out anyone mis-using substances."


Dykun, who now lives in Prestwich near Manchester, missed recent Olympic qualifying events in Bulgaria and China and is now barred from competing at another qualifier in Helsinki this week, his last opportunity before British Wrestling is due to name its team on May 10.

He moved to Britain in 2003 as part of British Wrestling's controversial initiative to get Eastern European athletes to help home-grown wrestlers develop into medal prospects.

Britain's last Olympic medal in the sport came in 1984 when Londoner Noel Loban won bronze.

UK Anti-Doping director of legal Graham Arthur said: "We are progressing a case relating to a possible anti-doping rule violation.

"The matter is subject to confidentiality restrictions imposed by the Anti-Doping Rules, and as such we are unable to comment further.

"All violations of the World Anti-Doping Code are published on our website if confirmed, when sanctions have been agreed and all appeal windows are over."

Dykun could be the first of several athletes, both from Britain and abroad, who test positive as the net closes in on cheats in the build-up to London 2012.

"We want to make it clear that there is no place for athletes seeking to dope in sport," said Arthur.

"We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of clean athletes in the run up to London 2012 and beyond."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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