Russian curling bronze medallist in doping controversy

CURLING proved the unlikely source of two controversies yesterday, with a Russian medallist at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics suspected of having tested positive for a banned substance.

Alexander Krushelnitsky, a bronze medallist along with his wife in mixed doubles curling, is suspected of testing positive for meldonium, which increases blood flow and thus improves exercise capacity.

Krushelnitsky did not respond immediately to a request for comment, while a spokesman for the Russian delegation at Pyeongchang said he had no immediate comment.

Elsewhere, Great Britain’s women were beaten by Sweden because Eve Muirhead did not let go of the final stone before the hogline in an extra-time end.

Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher won his second gold medal of the Games, adding the giant slalom title to his alpine combined crown by beating Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen by 1.27 seconds, with France’s Alexis Pinturault taking bronze.

Norway’s Oystein Braaten took gold in the men’s slopestyle skiing, while France’s Martin Fourcade won his fourth Olympic gold in the 15km biathlon – after a dramatic sprint to the line with Germany’s Simon Schempp.

Germany dominated qualifying in the men’s two-man bob, in which one of the American pilots – Justin Olsen – competed just two weeks after having his appendix removed.