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Rick Zamperin: Russian Olympic curler fails doping test. Wait a minute, a curler?

Click to play video: 'Russian medal-winning curler suspected of doping at Pyeongchang Games'
Russian medal-winning curler suspected of doping at Pyeongchang Games
Russian bronze medal curler Alexander Krushelnitsky is suspected of testing positive for a banned substance. It still needs to be confirmed by a "B sample." – Feb 18, 2018

Not a good look Russia. Not a good look.

Even after Russia was banned from the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics over its state-sponsored doping scandal, forcing 168 athletes to compete as Olympic Athletes from Russia, comes news of a Russian who has failed a doping test in South Korea.

To make matters worse, Alexander Krushelnitsky could lose the bronze medal he and his wife Anatasia Bryzgalova won in mixed doubles curling.

READ MORE: Doping charge against Russian medallist could ruin country’s shot at reinstatement

That’s right, Krushelnitsky is a curler who has been caught with Meldonium in his urine.

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It’s the same substance that led to Maria Sharapova’s 15 month suspension from women’s tennis and is usually used to treat people who have had a heart attack.

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Krushelnitsky has reportedly told Russian officials that he thinks a teammate who was not chosen for the Olympics spiked his drink with the banned substance before he traveled to PyeongChang.

READ MORE: New spin on curling plans to stick it out in Manitoba after Olympic debut

To be honest, I think I believe him.

Why, you ask?

I used to curl in my younger days and it is a phenomenal sport.

READ MORE: Norway’s curlers wear special pink pants for Valentine’s Day

But you don’t have to be a decathlete to curl. No offence to decathletes, or curlers.

A curler’s performance enhancing drug of choice is an ice cold pint of their favourite beer.

Now, if Krushelnitsky had tested positive for grain, hops and yeast I would believe that.

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