Russian Alexander Krushelnitsky has failed a doping test at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and now faces investigation by the group overseeing the Olympic Athletes.
Curler Alexander Krushelnitskiy tested positive for traces of meldonium, a medicine that increases circulation in the brain and aids with heart failure and chest pain, The New York Times reported Sunday. The World Anti-Doping Agency decided to ban the substance in September 2015, stating that it is classified as a performance-enhancing drug. The ban came into effect in January the following year.
The Times reported that the results of a routine urine sample showed traces of meldonium in his system, but a second test will be conducted to confirm the findings. Krushelnitskiy took home bronze with Anastasia Bryzgalova in mixed-doubles curling in Pyeongchang. The results could jeopardize their Olympic win.
In a statement, the IOC said the organization “cannot communicate on individual cases while the procedure is still ongoing,” and that doping tests are separate from the IOC for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
IOC response to OAR statement regarding a notification of an Adverse Analytical Finding pic.twitter.com/pF9LHJhLZg
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) February 18, 2018
In the same statement, the IOC said, “On the one hand it is extremely disappointing when prohibited substances might have been used, but on the other hand, it shows the effectiveness of the anti-doping system at the Games which protects the rights of all the clean athletes.”
Any decisions regarding the Krushelnitskiy case will be decided by the Olympic Athletes from Russia Implementation Group, which will report outcomes to the IOC executive board, according to the statement.
The International Olympic Committee suspended Russia from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics due to widespread “systemic” doping at Sochi 2014. Russian athletes were still able to compete in Pyeongchang, but were prohibited from wearing their country’s uniform. They also had to pass strict tests determined by the IOC and other groups.
The IOC instead decided that Russian athletes who compete would be known as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” or OAR, and they would be represented by the Olympics flag instead of the Russian flag. The Russian anthem would also be replaced by the Olympic anthem during athlete performances and medal ceremonies.
Krushelnitskiy and Bryzgalova, who are married, gained an edge over Norway’s Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten to win the match 8-4, securing the bronze medal. The couple then advanced to the semi-final, where they lost to Switzerland.
