Russian Olympic curler Alexander Krushelnitsky denies using meldonium
Last Updated: 20/02/18 5:29pm
Alexander Krushelnitsky has denied taking meldonium after the Olympic Athletes of Russia delegation confirmed that the curler's B sample tested positive for the banned substance.
A criminal investigation has been opened by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) into the circumstances which saw the medal-winning Russian test positive for meldonium.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport's anti-doping division opened a procedure against Krushelnitsky, who won mixed doubles bronze with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova, on Monday after his B sample was positive.
However, Krushelnitsky insists he has never taken any banned substances and is categorically against doping.
"I am ready to openly state that I have never, never during the time that I practice sports, used forbidden drugs and any other dishonest ways of competing," he said in a statement published on curling.ru.
"I am absolutely against doping and I have always tried to follow all anti-doping rules as closely as possible. My positive test for meldonium in this regard was, for me and for Nastia, not just a shock. This is a huge blow both to our reputation and career. "
Krushelnitsky added: "I, more than anyone else, am interested in conducting an investigation as soon as possible to find out the reasons for what has happened."
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov also came to Krushelnitsky's defence on Tuesday, saying the athlete could not have taken a banned drug deliberately.
"It's obvious that in this particular case, the athlete could not have intentionally used a prohibited substance, it just does not make any sense," Kolobkov told TASS news agency.
"Curling, in theory, is not the kind of sport in which dishonest athletes dope," he added.
The Olympic Athletes of Russia (OAR) delegation released a statement on Tuesday to say "the circumstances of the case, do not provide any answers to the questions as to how and when meldonium could have gotten into the athlete's body".
For meldonium, which increases blood flow, to be performance-enhancing it must be used on a regular basis and over a prolonged period of time and the OAR statement said Krushelnitsky provided a clear drug sample on January 22.
The statement said: "According to the unbiased results of laboratory analysis of Alexander Krushelnitsky's samples detected concentration of the substance can be indicative of taking it once, which is not applied in medical practice and is absolutely useless and ineffective in the context of enhancing physical performance or sports results.
"No evidence of the systematic usage of meldonium is available in this particular case.
"Therefore, the ROC has initiated a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances which also includes the criminal investigation under the RF (Russian Federation) criminal law to establish the facts of the case in detail."
The International Olympic Committee determined in December that Russian athletes who proved they were clean would be allowed to compete as neutrals in South Korea.
OAR are competing under the Olympic flag and the Olympic anthem is being played at any medal ceremonies they feature in.
