Russia's former anti-doping chief Nikita Kamaev has died of a heart attack aged 52.
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His death comes just two months after he resigned from his post with RUSADA, the agency at the centre of Russia's biggest doping scandal.
'The preliminary cause of death was a massive heart attack,' RUSADA said in a statement.
The news comes after Russia was suspended from international athletics last November because The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) accused Russian athletics of state-backed doping, corruption and extortion.
Kamaev resigned in December, a month after RUSADA was stopped from conducting drug tests.
‘He will remain in our memories as an experienced and understanding leader, distinguished by his high professionalism,’ the RUSADA statement said.
Kamaev is the second former senior RUSADA official to die this month. Founding chairman Vyacheslav Sinev, who left the agency in 2010, also passed away on 3 Feb.
Rhalou is a senior digital editor specialising in health and wellness with over eighteen years’ online and print publishing experience. Rhalou has worked at various health platforms including Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Runner’s World, Netdoctor, Women’s Running, Men’s Running, The Running Bug and Women’s Fitness. Covering everything from sexual health to fitness, parenting, marathon running and self-care, Rhalou loves creating fun and accessible lifestyle content and feels strongly about demystifying complex medical jargon and empowering people to better understand their health. Previously, Rhalou was a freelance social media specialist for several major sporting events and race listings including The London Marathon, Breca Swimrun, Findarace, The Westminster Mile and Prudential Ride 100. She has also been a reporter on a local newspaper in remote Scotland, penning breaking news stories about killer otters, cats stuck up trees and the Scottish hill racing scene. Over the years, Rhalou has been lucky enough to run 15 marathons and even a few ultra-marathons. She is still a passionate runner, but these days she can mostly be found at her local parkrun or chasing after her young son.
