Olympics: Russian bronze curler suspected of doping

Pyeongchang (SID) The first athlete from Russia is suspected of doping at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. According to reports from Russian media, including Sport-Express, it is said to be the curler Alexander Krushelnitsky, who won bronze in the mixed competition with partner Anastasia Brysgalowa. He reportedly tested positive for meldonium during the final. The blood circulation-promoting heart medication has been on the banned list since January 1, 2016. On Sunday evening, local time in Pyeongchang, several Russian media outlets quoted Konstantin Wybornow, spokesman for the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR), for which the curling duo officially competed. He confirmed "that the leadership of our delegation has received an official message from the IOC regarding a possible violation of the anti-doping rules. We will not disclose the name of the athlete until the B sample is opened, which we will do within the next 24 Expect hours." The International Olympic Committee (IOC) emphasized in a statement on Sunday evening that the doping testing system in Pyeongchang is independent of the IOC and therefore cannot comment on ongoing proceedings. The statement from the OAR spokesman was noted. If the case is confirmed, it will be assessed by the IOC Commission, which is overseeing the process of reintegrating the currently suspended Russian NOC. The commission, led by IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz, is intended to make a recommendation to the Executive Committee as to whether Russia should be rehabilitated before the closing ceremony, as promised by the IOC. Apparently, after the positive A sample, the B sample is scheduled to be opened on Monday in the presence of Krushelnitsky. The Russian curlers defeated Norway in the small final. "I don't know anything about any of this," Krushelnitsky was quoted as saying by Sport-Express, Russian curling coach Dimitri Melnikov added: "Alexander took the drug until 2016, until it was banned. Not since then. At the 2016 and 2017 World Championships "It was tested, there were no problems. I hope this is some kind of error." Dimitri Svishchev, President of the Russian Curling Federation, reacted in a wait-and-see manner. "We are still at the level of speculation at the moment. There is no official confirmation. Before I comment, I would like to wait for the verified information," he said. Svishchev recalled that there had been similar suspicions in the past, which ultimately turned out to be unfounded. In Pyeongchang, all decisions regarding a doping offense rest with the CAS anti-doping unit. The local organizing committee POCOG created the test plan in collaboration with the leading “Doping-Free Sport Unit” of the Association of All International Sports Associations. Among other things, tennis player Maria Sharapova tested positive for meldonium. On June 8, 2016, the International Tennis Federation banned her for two years retroactively from January 26, 2016, but the former world number one's sentence was reduced to 15 months following a CAS ruling.

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Olympics: Russian bronze curler suspected of doping

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