The International Olympic Committee’s highly contentious decision to resist a blanket ban on Russian athletes at Pyeongchang 2018 backfired enormously last night after one of the nation’s medallists failed a doping test.
A spokesman for the Olympic Athletes from Russia confirmed to Sportsmail that they had been notified of an adverse finding and said the results of the B sample would be known today.
They would not confirm the identity of the athlete, but it is reported by Russian media to be Alexander Krushelnitsky, who won a mixed doubles curling bronze medal. He is said to have tested positive for meldonium - the same substance for which Maria Sharapova was banned in 2016.
according to Russian daily newspaper Sport Express.
The Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR) team has declined to name the suspect though it did confirm a "possible violation."
"Today, the headquarters of our delegation received an official notification from the International Olympic Committee about a possible violation of the anti-doping rules," an OAR statement said, according to The Guardian.
"We do not call the name of the athlete or athlete, as well as the sport, prior to the results of the opening of the sample B," the OAR added.
The results of the B sample, a second doping test used to confirm or invalidate the presence of banned substances in the first sample, will be known on Monday.
Russian media has named the alleged doper
Sport Express, a daily sports newspaper in Russia, has said the athlete under investigation is Alexander Krushelnytsky, who helped OAR to a bronze medal in the mixed doubles curling event on February 13.
"The doping tests of the Russian curler Alexander Krushelnytsky showed suspicious results," the Sport Express report said. "Traces of meldonia are found."
Meldonia is used to treat heart attack victims and has been banned in sports since 2016. Previously, it had notably been used by Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova.
"At the moment, Krushelnytsky is being visited by doping officers for further investigation," Sport Express wrote.
Russian athletes have a history of doping
Over 160 Olympic Athletes from Russia are participating at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Russia, itself, was banned from the games because of systemic doping at the previous Winter Olympics in Sochi, which Russia hosted.
47 Russian athletes and coaches had been banned because of widespread doping at the 2014 games.
It has been reported that Krushelnytsky told Russian officials that he fears a team-mate who was not selected for Pyeongchang 2018 spiked his drink with the banned substance at a training camp in Japan before he travelled to South Korea.
Depending on the results of the B sample, it could be a huge embarrassment for the IOC, which has drawn major criticism for allowing a limited number of evidently clean Russians to compete under an Olympic Athlete from Russia banner despite the vast evidence of a state-sponsored doping system.
An IOC spokesperson said in a statement: ‘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.’
The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC in December over its widespread doping at the Sochi 2014 Games, with the caveat that athletes who proved they were clean could compete as neutrals.
That stance was attacked as far too soft at the time and again after 168 Russian athletes gained entry to compete in the OAR team.
Certainly, this latest development would appear to vindicate the view. Indeed, the scenario was seen as an accident waiting to happen and now the IOC needs to deal with the potential reputation damage of this failed test.
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