Russian Curling Bronze Medalist Aleksandr Krushelnitckii Busted For Doping

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says Russian curler Aleksandr Krushelnitckii, who with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova claimed bronze in mixed doubles last week in Pyeongchang, is formally charged with doping after his B-sample tested positive for meldonium.

Meldonium was banned in 2016. It recently knocked an entire Russian hockey team out of competition as well as tennis star Maria Sharapova, who earned a 15-month ban after testing positive for the drug.

The Norwegian team, which finished fourth and would be in line to claim the Russian bronze upon formal sanction from the IOC, has reportedly already left Korea and headed back to Norway.

The head of Russia’s curling federation suggested Krushelnitckii had food or drink spiked with the drug, possibly by Russia’s political enemies.