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Russian biathlete Eduard Latypov tests postive for meldonium

March 10, 2016

Latypov and two other biathletes, have been suspended by the International Biathlon Union as a result of positive tests for meldonium. Latypov's positive test stems from a sample taken at the IBU Cup last month.

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Meldonium Doping
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Sorokin

Eduard Latypov, has become the latest Russian athlete to test positive for the banned substance meldonium.

A statement posted on the website of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) on Thursday said that the International Biathlon Union (IBU) had suspended the 21-year-old Latypov, last year's world junior champion, with immediate effect.

A statement posted on the IBU's website did not mention the name of the athlete or substance used, but said that the "substance is defined under hormones and metabolic modulators and it is new on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited list as of 1 January 2016." The statement went on to say that the athlete had the option of having the B sample opened and analyzed, but that he or she could also wave this and accept the suspension.

This is the same substance that Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova admitted to using on Monday. Two Ukranian biathletes, Olga Abramova and Artem Tyschenko, were also suspended for using meldonium, which is typically used in eastern Europe in treating people with serious heart ailments, diabetes and low levels of magnesium.

kd/pfd (Reuters, AP)