Member of Olympic Athletes from Russia team being investigated for possible doping offence
Last Updated: 18/02/18 2:48pm
A member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the Winter Olympics is reportedly being investigated for a possible doping offence.
Russian news agency TASS said on Sunday that the team had been advised of a positive 'A' sample result in Pyeongchang but did not confirm who the athlete was or what sport was involved.
Olympic Athletes from Russia press-attache Konstantin Vybornov said: "Today [February 18], our delegation has received an official notification from the International Olympic Committee [IOC] about a possible doping abuse.
"We are not naming the athlete, or the kind of sports, before the B test results are announced - which is due within next 24 hours."
There is no official Russian team in Pyeongchang as the Russian Olympic Committee is under suspension following the McLaren report into state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The IOC determined in December that Russian athletes who proved they were clean would be allowed to compete as neutrals in South Korea.
"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 clean athletes," an IOC statement said.
OAR are competing under the Olympic flag and the Olympic anthem is being played at any medal ceremonies they feature in.
A total of 168 athletes are competing in the OAR team, and they have so far won three silver medals and eight bronzes.
