Russian medal-winning athlete investigated over doping claims at Winter Olympics

A Russian athlete is being investigated over claims of doping at the Winter Olympics.

Alexander Krushelnitsky won bronze with his wife in the mixed doubles curling event but could see the honour stripped after being suspected of testing positive for meldonium.

The substance increases blood flow and improves exercise capacity. It was banned in 2016 but is available over the counter in many eastern European countries.

The case may prove disastrous for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which banned Russia from competing in the Games in Pyeongchang following state-sponsored doping at their own home Games at Sochi in 2014.

However, for athletes who could prove they were clean, the IOC allowed individuals to compete under the neutral flag of OAR (Olympic athletes from Russia). It is under this banner that Krushelnitsky competed, calling into question the IOC’s compromise to allow what should have been clean athletes to travel to South Korea.