Updated
Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky's second sample has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, the Russian Olympic delegation has confirmed.
Krushelnitsky, who won bronze in Pyeongchang with his wife in mixed doubles curling, had been under investigation over a suspected anti-doping violation.
The delegation said it could not explain how the substance had ended up in Krushelnitsky's body and it was launching an investigation into the case.
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said Krushelnitsky could not have taken the substance deliberately.
"It's obvious that in this particular case, the athlete could not have intentionally used a prohibited substance, it just does not make any sense," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Kolobkov as saying.
Suspicions of a doping violation have shocked the Russian team and also the sport of curling, where steady hands and sharp eyes outweigh physical fitness.
The case could jeopardise Russia's efforts to draw a line under a years-long drug-cheating scandal.
Russia has been accused of running a state-backed, systematic doping program for years — an allegation Moscow denies.
As a result, its athletes are competing at Pyeongchang as neutral "Olympic Athletes from Russia" (OAR).
The Russians had been hoping a clean record at Pyeongchang would persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow them to march at the Games closing ceremony on February 25 with the Russian flag and in national uniform.
AP/Reuters
Topics: winter-olympics, sport, doping-in-sports, korea-republic-of, russian-federation
First posted