Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva has admitted an anti-doping violation and has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Saturday.
As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were meeting to discuss Russia's possible Olympic reinstatement, CAS said in a statement that Sergeeva had tested positive in an out-of-competition test for the banned heart condition product trimetazidine two days before her race.
Sergeeva finished 12th with Anastasia Kocherzhova in the women's bobsleigh competition in Pyeongchang.
"The athlete has admitted the anti-doping rule violation; she is disqualified from the women’s bobsleigh event," it said.
"The results obtained by the team at the same event are disqualified with all resulting consequences; the athlete is excluded from Pyeongchang 2018; her accreditation shall be withdrawn.
"These proceedings shall continue before the CAS between the IBSF and the athlete after the end of the Games; the IOC is no longer a party to this procedure.
"The athlete has accepted a provisional suspension beyond the period of the Games and reserved her 'rights to seek the elimination or reduction of the ineligibility period' following the conclusion of the Games."
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Saturday's announcement comes after Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky agreed to hand back his mixed-team bronze medal after testing positive for meldonium, which can aid in endurance.
It also came while the IOC's executive board was meeting to discuss whether to lift the suspension of Russia’s Olympic committee and allow them to march with the Russian flag at Sunday’s closing ceremony. (Reporting by Mitch Phillips; Editing by Peter Rutherford; )
