The Russian, who also serves as an International Sambo Federation (FIAS) vice-president, was speaking here at the European Sambo Championships in Belarus’ capital.

FIAS states on its website that it provides extensive anti-doping education to its members, helping athletes and supporting personnel in understanding their rights and responsibilities with regard to doping-free sport.

"The International Sambo Federation has received a letter of gratitude from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for energetic efforts in anti-doping activity," Eliseev said.

"We conduct drug testing at all major competitions.

"Moreover, we regularly train our athletes via seminars and interactive testing.

"It is worth mentioning that no matter what drugs one takes, they can hardly give you any advantage on the mat.

"Doping in sambo is useless; on the contrary, it can be very harmful.

"An athlete who prepares for competitions without using illegal substances is more confident on the mat during the fight.

"That's why he/she wins."

At last year’s Sambo World Cup in Moscow, FIAS President Vasily Shestakov revealed that four sambists, including two from Russia, had tested positive for meldonium.

Developed in Latvia, meldonium was only added to the WADA banned list on January 1, 2016.

It was moved from the monitored to the prohibited list by WADA due to "evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance".

Sambo athletes competing at international or national level can have their urine and/or blood tested anytime, anywhere by FIAS, a national anti-doping organisation or an event’s Organising Committee.

Specially trained and accredited doping control personnel carry out all tests, which can be conducted in-competition and out-of-competition.

Athletes can be chosen for in-competition testing based on random selection, their finishing position or by being targeted for a particular reason.

They can be tested out-of-competition anytime, anywhere and with no advanced notice. 

WADA has developed a set of tools to assist its stakeholders with their anti-doping education needs.

Its Play True Quiz, accessible here, is an interactive computer game that tests athletes’ knowledge about anti-doping.

The quiz is currently available in 36 languages.