Russian Curler Is Suspected Of Testing Positive For Meldonium

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-olympics/43109290

I might have got this wrong, but I thought the Russians had been banned from the Olympics anyway ?

[fiction-factory]

I think individuals can enter if they have not been caught before but are not representing Russia

[fiction-factory]

Sorry- can't type very well on here. I meant some Russians can take part but have to be entering as an individual or under Olympic Flag rather than under the Russian flag. I may be wrong but I recall hearing that

[ummmm]

I think they can compete as individuals.

[albaqwerty]

From memory (hah! probably wrong) Russia has been banned, but some Russian athletes are competing as OAR - which I think is Official Athlete from Russia and under a neutral flag (the Olympic banner)

They have had to prove that they have never tested positive or failed a drugs test.

[mikey4444]

Thanks guys....I wasn't aware of that. I always thought that any competitor at any Olympics had to be part of his or hers national Team.

[murraymints]

Think I may enter as independent thrower of haggis ? ;0)

[DTCwordfan]

Think I may enter as a thrower of ice into my G&T glass,

[waterboatman]

I'll enter the sink a pint. I used to be able to do it in 5 seconds. That was in army days, during a boat race.

[mikey4444]

Boaty...perhaps we could enter you in the cake-baking section ?

[aelmpvw]

me too boaty, i used to say it was because i had one knocked over once

[waterboatman]

:o} I like that ael! A dangerous thing to do, knocking a squaddies pint over!

[waterboatman]

mikey you have the knowledge and skill now mate, you could do that one. :o}

[bednobs]

russians who an prove they are clean are competing under "olympic athlete of russia". If they win gold, they play the olympic theme and they hoist the olympic flag. More interestingly, what advantage could doping give to curlers?

[mikey4444]

lol Boaty !

[waterboatman]

bednobs I've been wondering that!

[aelmpvw]

//More interestingly, what advantage could doping give to curlers?//

i don't know but if there's a drug that helps you to stay upright on black ice i'd be interested to hear about it

[waterboatman]

The inventor of that would make a fortune!

[aelmpvw]

i thought some wag would say you should stop drinking pints in five seconds ...

[Cloverjo]

The curlers work in the gym to get the muscles needed to sweep hard. Drugs would help with that.

I think it's ridiculous that OARs are allowed to compete as a team in any event. They were meant to be independents. It makes a mockery of calling them OAR. Might as well just call them Russia. Such a disappointment to see one under investigation.

[albaqwerty]

Maria Sharapova took it, allegedly.

'Meldonium “is used to prevent death of ischemic cells and not to increase performance of normal cells,” the statement said. “Meldonium cannot improve athletic performance, but it can stop tissue damage in the case of ischemia,” which is lack of blood flow to an area of the body'