Nadezhda Sergeeva has some explaining to do.
Sergeeva, a bobsledder competing for the Olympic Athletes from Russia on the 2018 Olympics, failed a doping take a look at after testing constructive for a banned coronary heart medicine named trimetazidine, Russian bobsled federation president Alexander Zubkov introduced Friday.
There’s an apparent motive why that’s dangerous information: Russia was formally banned from the 2018 Olympics as punishment for its systematic doping on the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, forcing its athletes to compete beneath the “OAR” delegation.
However Sergeeva now could be the second Russian athlete in Pyeongchang caught doping, as roller Alexander Krushelnitsky just lately was stripped of his bronze medal after testing constructive for meldonium.
The irony doesn’t cease there for Sergeeva, nevertheless: Previous to the Video games, the 30-year-old proudly wore a T-shirt for a industrial shoot that learn, of all issues, “I Don’t Do Doping.”
She may need to take away that one from her closet.
Actually, Sergeeva, who completed twelfth within the ladies’s two-man bobsled competitors, spoke out towards Russia’s ban following her remaining run.
“If we’re right here, and we’re clear, we should always be capable to stroll beneath our flag,” Sergeeva mentioned when requested concerning the “OAR” label on her go well with, through Yahoo Sports activities.
Sergeeva additionally noticed initially of the Olympics that different athletes gave the impression to be embracing members of the OAR delegation as a result of they had been “clear.”
“I don’t know why, however they’ve began speaking to us greater than ever earlier than. I really feel it. Perhaps it’s an indication to them that we’re clear,” she informed The Related Press on the time.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee had thought of reinstating the OAR previous to the closing ceremony to permit its athletes to stroll beneath the Russian flag. It’s protected to say that’s off the desk now, although.
