Russian Olympic team to investigate circumstances leading to Alexander Krushelnitsky's failed doping test

  • Olympic Athletes from Russia open internal proceedings into failed doping test
  • Alexander Krushelnitsky returned traces of the banned substance meldonium
  • The bronze medal-winning curler reportedly claimed he was spiked by his rival
  • Russian team say results were indicative of Krushelnitsky taking the drug once, which would not have had a performance-enhancing effect

The circumstances of Winter Olympics medal-winning Russia curler Alexander Krushelnitsky's positive test for meldonium are being investigated, the Olympic Athletes from Russia team has announced.

On Monday the Court of Arbitration for Sport's anti-doping division launched proceedings against Krushelnitsky, who won mixed doubles bronze with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalov, with the 25-year-old's B sample also positive.

The OAR delegation issued a statement on Tuesday which stated 'the circumstances of the case, do not provide any answers to the questions as to how and when meldonium could have gotten into the athlete's body'.

Alexander Krushelnitsky failed a doping test at the Winter Olympic Games for meldonium

Alexander Krushelnitsky failed a doping test at the Winter Olympic Games for meldonium

WHAT IS MELDONIUM? 

Meldonium is commonly used to treat heart issues and diabetes. 

It is manufactured in Latvia and widely used in eastern Europe, but it not approved for use in the United States. 

It was developed to treat patients with heart conditions such as angina, chronic heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular disorders.

Maria Sharapova received a 15-month  ban after traces of the drug were found in a doping test in 2016.  

After a period of consulation, meldonium it was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list in January 2016.  

The drug can help to adjust the body’s use of energy and boost endurance. 

It was used to improve the stamina of Soviet troops fighting at high altitudes in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

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Krushelnitsky has also responded by saying he has never taken a banned substance with reports claiming he told authorities that he was spiked by a rival shortly before heading to South Korea.


'I am ready to openly state that I have never, never during the time that I practice sports, used forbidden drugs and any other dishonest ways of competing,' he said in a statement published on curling.ru.

'I am absolutely against doping and I have always tried to follow all anti-doping rules as closely as possible. My positive test for meldonium in this regard was, for me and for Nastia, not just a shock. This is a huge blow both to our reputation and career. '

Krushelnitsky added: 'I, more than anyone else, am interested in conducting an investigation as soon as possible to find out the reasons for what has happened.'

The OAR said Krushelnitsky provided a clear drug sample on January 22 and that for meldonium, which increases blood flow, to be performance-enhancing it must be used regularly and over a prolonged period.

Their statement added: 'According to the unbiased results of laboratory analysis of Alexander Krushelnitsky's samples detected concentration of the substance can be indicative of taking it once, which is not applied in medical practice and is absolutely useless and ineffective in the context of enhancing physical performance or sports results.

'No evidence of the systematic usage of meldonium is available in this particular case.

'Therefore, the ROC has initiated a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances which also includes the criminal investigation under the RF (Russian Federation) criminal law to establish the facts of the case in detail.'

Krushelnitsky claims he was spiked by a rival in the team before heading to Pyeongchang

Krushelnitsky claims he was spiked by a rival in the team before heading to Pyeongchang

Meldonium was found to be used by more than 100 Russian athletes in 2016.

Ex-world tennis No 1 Maria Sharapova served a 15-month ban for using the substance after it was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.

The positive test will ignite further debate about the involvement of Russian athletes at the Games.

The ROC is under suspension by the International Olympic Committee following the systemic doping at the Sochi 2014 Olympics.

In December the IOC determined that Russian athletes who proved they were clean would be allowed to compete as neutrals in the Games, in a team named the Olympic Athletes of Russia.

The OAR are competing under the Olympic flag and the Olympic anthem is being played at any medal ceremonies they feature in.

Krushelnitsky won bronze alongside wife Anastasia Bryzgalova, who has not failed a test

Krushelnitsky won bronze alongside wife Anastasia Bryzgalova, who has not failed a test

Bryzgalova faces being stripped of her bronze medal if her husband is found guilty of doping

Bryzgalova faces being stripped of her bronze medal if her husband is found guilty of doping

There are 168 athletes competing in the OAR team, who have so far won 11 medals, three silvers and eight bronzes - one of them won by Krushelnitsky and Bryzgalova in the first Olympic mixed doubles curling tournament.

The OAR statement expressed 'sincere regret over the fact of the incident'.

It added: 'We fully share and support the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the IOC's zero tolerance attitude to doping and take all the required measures so that the offenders bear the utmost responsibility for that.

'That's why we are committed to carry out the aforementioned investigation and to find the actual reasons of this doping case.'

Earlier on Tuesday CAS' ADD announced a third anti-doping procedure of the Games.

Slovenian ice hockey player Ziga Jeglic was found to have taken fenoterol, which opens up the airways to the lungs, in an in-competition test, CAS' ADD said, and has been thrown out of the Games.

Japanese short track speedskater Kei Saito was the first anti-doping procedure announced at the Games.