Russian Olympic athlete in possible doping case

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea: A Russian athlete at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics has committed a “possible violation of anti-doping rules”, the team’s spokesman told Russian media on Sunday.

“Today the headquarters of our delegation received an official notice from the IOC regarding a possible violation of anti-doping rules,” Konstantin Vybornov, spokesman for the Olympic Athletes from Russia, was quoted as saying.

“We are not naming the athlete or the discipline until the B-sample results, which are expected within approximately 24 hours.”Vybornov was not immediately available to confirm the statement, which was carried by several Russian media including the TASS news agency.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is handling doping cases in Pyeongchang, did not respond to a request for confirmation of the case.Russia’s Sport Express said the case involved meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances in 2016.

Russia are banned from the Olympics over systemic doping, but 168 Russian athletes deemed clean are competing in Pyeongchang under the neutral banner of Olympic Athletes from Russia. A doping case would be deeply embarrassing and could affect deliberations on whether to lift Russia’s ban in time for the Pyeongchang closing ceremony.

The International Olympic Committee suspended Russia in December after revelations of a widespread and highly orchestrated doping conspiracy, which first emerged before the Rio 2016 Summer Games.Investigations found that the doping plot, straddling several years, culminated when Russia hosted the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, where they topped the medals table.