Already have an account?
Get back to the

Russian Olympic Curler Alexander Krushelnitsky Fails Drug Test After Doping Scandal

Alexander-Krushelnitsky-drugs
Russia’s Aleksandr Krushelnitckii brushes the ice surface during the curling mixed doubles round robin session between the US and the Olympic Athletes from Russia during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, February 8, 2018. WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images

Olympic curling medalist Alexander Krushelnitsky isn’t winning today. Instead he’s on a plane home to Russia. 

The Russian athlete has been charged with a doping offense by the Court of Arbitration for the Sport after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance that increases blood flow and improves exercise capacity. The 25-year-old is now likely to be stripped of the bronze medal, won with his wife  Anastasia Bryzgalova last week at the 2018 Winter Olympics PyeongChang, South Korea, CBS reported on Monday, February 19.

Related: Biggest Olympics Scandals Ever

“We were all shocked when we found out,” Russian curler Viktoria Moiseeva told The Telegraph. “Of course we very much hope it was some kind of mistake. With us, it’s not faster, higher, stronger; it’s about being more accurate. I can’t imagine what kind of drugs you could use in curling so it’s very hard to believe.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sports has formally charged Krushelnitsky pending a hearing and Russia’s curling federation have launched an internal investigation, per the Telegraph.

Related: Meet Team USA: These Athletes Are Representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang

“I hope it’s not true for the sport of curling,” Norwegian curler Thomas Ulsrud told the paper. “If it’s true, I feel really sad for the Norwegian team who worked really hard, ended up in fourth place and just left for Norway and they aren’t even here.” 

Russian curling federation president Dmitry Svishchev said the Russian curlers were tested on January 22 ahead of flying out for the Winter Games, and the results were negative. “I have known these guys for many years,” he told The Guardian. “Only a crazy person takes banned substances before a competition, before the Olympics. It’s a strange story. It raises a lot of questions.”

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!