Four Russian athletes have tested positive for the banned drug meldonium.
At least 16 Russian sportspeople, including tennis player Maria
Sharapova, have tested positive for the substance since it was banned by
the World Anti-Doping Agency on 1 January.
The latest four are yet to be named.
Russia’s athletics federation is suspended from international
competition for its alleged involvement in widespread doping, with a
decision on potential reinstatement due in May.
Dmitry Shlyakhtin, head of the All-Russia Athletic Federation, said
the latest positive tests will not “aggravate” that “complex” decision.
Russia’s international ban – which includes this summer’s Rio Olympic
Games – applies only to its athletics federation and followed a WADA
report last year that alleged “state-sponsored doping”.
Last week, Russia’s four-time breaststroke world champion Yuliya Efimova failed an out-of-competition test.
World number seven Sharapova, meanwhile, failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.
The 28-year-old said she had been taking meldonium since 2006 for health reasons.
According to WADA, a substance may be “considered” for the prohibited
list if it meets two of the following three criteria: Enhances
performance; poses a threat to athlete health and violates the spirit of
sport.
Grindeks, the Latvian company that produces the drug, says meldonium can take “several months” to leave the body.
It said the “terminal elimination” of the drug depends on a variety
of factors such as dose, duration of treatment and sensitivity of
testing methods.
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