Zagitova’s first gold for Russia marred by fresh dope offence
15yearold wins figure skating but woman bobsledder Nadezhda tests positive
GANGNEUNG: A second Russian athlete has failed a doping test at the Pyeongchang Games, a day before the International Olympic Committee’s executive board is to decide whether to reinstate the country for Sunday’s closing ceremony.
Russian Bobsled Federation president Alexander Zubkov said that a drug-test sample that pilot Nadezhda Sergeeva gave was positive.
The Russian delegation at the Olympics said in a statement that the substance found was Trimetazdine, a medication used for angina sufferers that is listed by the World Anti-doping Agency as a banned substance affecting the metabolism. “She confirms she took no such medication and the team confirms she was not issued any medication,” said Zubkov. “Federation representatives at the Olympics” are starting to prepare a defence, he said.
ZAGITOVA WINS RUSSIA’S FIRST GOLD
PYEONGCHANG: Close friends, fierce competitors and, now, the two best women figure skaters in the world. Alina Zagitova edged training partner Evgenia Medvedeva for victory in the singles competition, giving the Russians their first gold medal.
“I haven’t fully realized yet that I’ve won,” the 15-year-old Zagitova said. “I think I need some time to understand that I won the Olympic Games.”
She and Medvedeva tied in the free skate with 156.65 points, but Zagitova had won the short program Wednesday — giving her the edge by only 1.31 points.
“I can’t believe I am the champion,” Zagitova said.
RUSSIA ENTER ICE HOCKEY FINAL
GANGNEUNG: Vasili Koshechkin recorded a shutout to lift the Russian men past the Czech Republic 3-0, giving them a chance at their first Olympic gold medal in
men’s ice hockey for more than a quarter of a century.
It was Russia’s netminder who dominated with Koshechkin turning aside 31 shots in his second shutout of the Games.
“He’s been our best player this tournament,” Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko said of Koshechkin. “He’s just been making a lot of saves. He made some huge saves tonight, and he was good.”