Though she has never tested positive for an anti-doping violation, in May 2018 she was suspended from international competition due to participating in a training camp including banned coach Viktor Chegin.

Her first international competition was in 2013, when she finished 5th in the 5000 m race walk at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

She was in the top ten at the 10 km split passed in 44:10, but she was ultimately one of six athletes disqualified for IAAF rule 230.6(a) "Repeated failure to comply with the definition of Race Walking.

"[2][3] In May 2018, Afanasyeva's status as an Authorized Neutral Athlete was suspended by the IAAF, along with that of four other Russian racewalkers, for participating in an April training camp that included coach Viktor Chegin, who has received a lifetime ban from the sport.

[4][5] This prevented her from competing in any international competitions, including the 2018 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in China that month which she had qualified for.