Russian curler stripped of Olympic medal for doping

Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of his Pyeongchang Winter Olympics bronze medal on Thursday after being found guilty of doping, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said.

Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation, after winning bronze in mixed doubles with his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova.

Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has been stripped of his Olympic bronze medal after admitting to a doping violation at the Pyeongchang Games.

Krushelnitsky tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, which is believed to help blood circulation, after winning bronze in mixed doubles with his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced the sanction on Thursday, saying Krushelnitsky’s results had been disqualified and his credential was withdrawn.

CAS says Krushelnitsky accepted a provisional suspension beyond the games but “reserved his rights to seek the elimination or reduction of any period of ineligibility based on ‘no fault or negligence’” following the conclusion of the games.

Russia was banned from the Pyeongchang Olympics over widespread doping at the Sochi Games four years ago, but 168 Russians were allowed by the IOC to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” under the Olympic flag.