ZWIFT suspended Reznikov and Trommer from its races for modifying data
After fabricating or altering their race data, another two riders were disqualified from Zwift’s top-level events, bringing the sport into disrepute.
Both Antonina Reznikov and Selma Trommer are barred from joining official Zwift Cycling Esports activities until mid-July 2021, after earning six-month suspensions beginning on 11 January and 18 January respectively.
Reznikov, an Ironman triathlete who finished third in the Israeli road race championships last year, was disqualified from the Zwift Racing League event in which she placed fourth for altering her power data. “The Zwift Performance Verification Board wrote, “Zwift’s automated systems found that the dual-recorded data from the power metre of the rider may have been edited and required more thorough investigation. Zwift’s thorough review of the rider’s data showed that the submitted power values were 32 percent higher than the values originally reported.
“Zwift discussed the issue with the rider, and although they initially denied editing the file, they eventually acknowledged that they had indeed changed their power data before submitting it to Zwift.”
For the same reason as Reznikov a week later, also at a Zwift Racing League event, Trommer, 10th place finisher in last year’s German road race championships, caught the attention of “Zwift’s automated systems.” “Zwift’s detailed analysis of the rider’s data identified that the power values submitted were 9% higher than the values originally recorded.”
Selma denied modifying data. Her team manager told Zwift that Trommer had trouble uploading her ride file to Garmin Link, and used Golden Cheetah instead to import the file and then export it before sending it to Zwift. The Zwift Output Verification Board considered whether, by the use of such applications, the files may have been modified by mistake.
“The fact … that all the power records in the rider’s data file had all been increased by a fixed percentage, precluded this possibility.”
According to Zwift, Trommer admitted that the data was modified, but “or provided any explanation as to how their file came to be edited,” did not take personal responsibility.
In the course of their bans, both Reznikov and Trommer will be able to continue using Zwift, as long as they do not run official Esports events.
Reznikov and Trommer are joining two other riders who are currently barred from falsifying or changing their race information. On August 18 last year, Shanni Berger started her suspension and Lizi Duncombe joined her on the sidelines from September 20 onwards. “Like Reznikov and Trommer, both Berger and Duncombe were banned for “Data manufacturing or alteration; discrediting the sport.
In the same way as the World Anti-Doping Body is charged with identifying doping in outdoor cycling, Zwift polices its own competitions for different ways of cheating. The Zwift Performance Verification Board hands down decisions on cheating in Zwift.
