Olympics 2018: Doping suspicion: CAS opens trial against Russian Curler

The Anti-Doping Division of the International Sports Court CAS has initiated proceedings against the Russian curler Alexander Kruschelnizki.

This was confirmed by CAS in a statement on Monday afternoon at local time in Pyeongchang. A date for a hearing has not yet been set. CAS did not provide any further information.

Kruschelnizki won the bronze medal in the mixed competition together with his curling partner and wife Anastassija Brysgalowa. Konstantin Vybornov, spokesman for the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR) in Pyeongchang, had confirmed on Sunday that “the leadership of our delegation has received an official message from the IOC regarding a possible violation of anti-doping rules”.

Russian media had reported unanimously that Kruschelnizki in the A-sample had been positively tested for the forbidden cardiac drug Meldonium. The B-sample should be opened on Monday.

The Japanese short-tracker Kei Saito had previously been caught with the masking substance acetazolamide. Whether the case, it should be confirmed, has implications for a possible suspension of the Russian National Olympic Committee before the closing ceremony on Sunday, is unclear.

The International Olympic Committee IOC had already stated on Sunday that the case will now be assessed by the IOC Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the process of reintegrating the Russian NOK.

The Commission, chaired by IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz, is to recommend to the Executive Committee whether Russia should be pardoned before the closing ceremony, as promised by the IOC.

The IOC Executive, headed by President Thomas Bach, will meet on Saturday to decide whether to reintegrate Russia.

The IOC has never made public the criteria on the basis of which the decision to grant a pardon is taken before the closing ceremony. Prior to the CAS’s announcement, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said on Monday morning:”We are extremely disappointed to have a case confirmed” The IOC had thoroughly reviewed and cleared the 168 Russian athletes allowed to start in Pyeongchang.

Because of the state doping scandal surrounding the winter games four years ago in Sochi, Russian athletes have to compete in Pyeongchang as “Olympic athletes from Russia” (OAR) under a neutral flag.