‘Clean’ curler hit by meldonium slur
PYEONGCHANG: A medal-winning Russian curler who passed rigorous vetting to attend the Pyeongchang Olympics was hit by a drugs case yesterday, raising questions over the testing programme and the move to let Russians compete despite systemic doping.
Alexander Krushelnitsky, who won bronze in the mixed doubles curling with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova, was the subject of a new procedure at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) anti-doping division.
The case could have wider repercussions: Olympic officials will decide this week whether to lift a ban on Russia and let them march behind their national flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday.
Krushelnitsky was one of 168 athletes passed as “clean” and allowed to compete as neutrals after a targeted testing programme stretching back over several months.
But after both his A and B urine samples tested positive, CAS will now decide if there has been a violation and any possible sanctions. No date was set for the hearing.
A source close to the matter told AFP the case involves meldonium, which increases endurance and helps recovery. Tennis star Maria Sharapova served a 15-month ban after testing positive for meldonium in 2016.
Russia were banned as a team from the Olympics in December after investigations revealed an extensive doping plot culminating at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, where the hosts topped the medals table.
Russian curling federation president Dmitry Svishchev dismissed the case against Krushelnitsky as a “provocation, a subversive act”.
“During his career, since 2015, he gave 11 samples for testing and all of them have been negative,” Svishchev told Russia’s 360TV channel.
“Just imagine what could have happened inside the man’s head to take a [banned] pill ahead of the Olympics?”
Russia’s women’s curling coach Sergei Belanov also i nsisted performanceenhancing drugs would make little sense in the sedate ice sport.
“And I don’t believe a young man chooses risk or will use the same drug that has been around for two years,” he said. “It’s stupid and Alexander is not a stupid man.”
LORENTZEN TAKES GOLD
Norway’s Havard Lorentzen blazed to men’s 500m speed skating gold in an Olympic record 34.41sec at the Pyeongchang Winter Games yesterday.
Lorentzen, 25, pipped South Korea’s Cha Min-kyu by just one-hundredth of a second, with Chinese skater Gao Tingyu 0.24sec adrift.
It was the 10th title of the Games for Norway, taking them one clear of Germany at the top of the medals table.
US REACH HOCKEY FINAL
Reigning world champions United States blanked Finland 5-0 yesterday to reach the Winter Olympic women’s hockey final.
Dani Cameranesi scored two goals and US goaltender Maddie Rooney made 14 saves as the Americans, who haven’t won Olympic gold in 20 years, booked a berth in Thursday’s championship game.
“It’s honestly a dream come true,” US forward Hilary Knight said.