Winter Olympics: Bobsleigher Nadezhda Sergeeva fails doping test in second case for Russia at the Games

SPH Brightcove Video
Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva has admitted an anti-doping violation and has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Russia's Nadezhda Sergeeva and Anastasia Kocherzhova compete in the women's bobsleigh heat 3 run during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Sliding Centre on Feb 21, 2018. PHOTO: AFP

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA (REUTERS) - A second Russian athlete has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, a major blow for the nation's hopes of regaining its Olympic status and drawing a line under years of doping scandals.

Bobsleigher Nadezhda Sergeeva tested positive for a heart drug on Feb 18, five days after a previous doping test returned a negative result for her, the Russian bobsleigh federation said in a statement on Friday (Feb 23).

"On Feb 13, her sample was clean. The team's medical staff did not prescribe the drug to the athlete," the federation said in a post on its official Facebook page.

"The Bobsleigh Federation of Russia and the athlete herself understand the extent of their responsibility and understand how what has happened can have an impact on the fate of the whole team."

Earlier this week, Russian curling medallist Alexander Krushelnitsky agreed to hand back his mixed-team bronze medal after testing positive for meldonium, which can aid in endurance.

Krushelnitsky's case shocked the Russian athletes, who are competing at the Games as neutral athletes as punishment over allegations that the sporting powerhouse ran a systematic, state-backed doping programme.

Moscow denies this.

But his case also raised doubts about whether the violation was intentional because meldonium would offer few benefits in curling, which does not involve intense physical exertion.

At that point, there were still Russian hopes that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would go ahead and lift its suspension of Russia's Olympic committee and allow them to march with the Russian flag at Sunday's closing ceremony.

That prospect is now severely complicated by the second positive test of a Russian athlete. Russia now accounts for two out of four positive tests during the Games.

The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The news came a few hours after hundreds of Russian fans roared in celebration when teenage figure skater Alina Zagitova delivered their team's first gold medal.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.