CAS opened an investigation into Krushelnitsky's case following a request from the IOC.GETTY IMAGES
A criminal investigation has been opened into how Pyeongchang 2018 medal-winning curler Alexander Krushelnitsky tested positive for meldonium, the Olympic Athletics from Russia team said, according to the BBC. The 25-year-old's B sample also returned a positive test for the banned substance, it was announced on Tuesday. Krushelnitsky won mixed-doubles Bronze with his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova. The OAR said, "No evidence of the systematic usage of meldonium is available in this particular case." Krushelnitsky said that he has never taken a banned substance and "welcomed the investigation." Krushelnitsky: "I, more than anyone else, am interested in an investigation as soon as possible to find out the reasons for what has happened" (BBC, 2/20).
'ROBBED' OF GLORY: In London, Sean Ingle reported the Norwegian curlers who missed out on a Bronze Medal "due to Russian doping" want Olympics organizers to hold a new podium ceremony for them in Pyeongchang because they feel "robbed of their moment of glory." Norway's team of Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien finished fourth in the tournament last week. Nedregotten said that if Krushelnitsky's ban is confirmed, he would like IOC to hold a new ceremony before the Games end on Sunday. Nedregotten: "If he is found guilty, then they've robbed us of our moment of glory, receiving our medal in the stadium" (GUARDIAN, 2/20).
THIRD STRIKE: The IRISH TIMES reported a Slovenian ice hockey player was "thrown out of the Winter Olympics" after a positive drug test, the Court of Arbitration for Sport's anti-doping division announced. Ziga Jeglic was found to have taken fenoterol, which "opens up the airways to the lungs," in an in-competition test (IRISH TIMES, 2/20).
CLOSING CEREMONY: The PA reported the IOC said that Sunday's closing ceremony "will not be overshadowed by a decision on whether or not Russian athletes can march under the Russian flag." An IOC panel is reviewing the sanctions against Russia and "will make its recommendation" to the exec board on Saturday. If the Olympic Athletes of Russia are "ruled to have acted with the letter and spirit of the eligibility procedures," the IOC "may lift the suspension on Russia ahead of the closing ceremony." IOC Dir of Communications Mark Adams said, "There is no way that (decision) can overshadow the closing ceremony" (PA, 2/20).
