At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2019 Poltoranin was one of five athletes caught doping by Bundeskriminalamt in a police raid in Seefeld, Austria.

On the first day, Poltoranin competed in the classic sprint where he qualified to the semifinals, but he broke his ski poles at the start.

[5] On the last day of the championship, he took bronze in the men's 50 km classic and finished after Johan Olsson and Dario Cologna.

He began his world cup run on 11 November 2012 in Gällivare, where he reached his first season podium, finishing second in 15 km freestyle race.

[9] On 2 December 2012 he took third at Nordic Opening's 15 km classical handicap start in Kuusamo crossing the line 3.4 seconds behind Petter Northug.

[11] Poltoranin won his first ever Tour de Ski stage in the 5 km classic individual in Toblach as Petter Northug finished second to maintain his overall lead.

In the final run in Poltoranin coasted in comfortably with a time of 3:25.7, while Cologna narrowly out-sprinted Pellegrino for a second-place finish to please the home crowd.