A Mystery Delay in Figure Skating Medals Has Reignited Russian Olympic Doping Rumors
Reports emerged from the Beijing Winter Olympics today that a Russian figure skater has failed a drug test, potentially handing the gold medal won by the Russians in the figure skating team event to their U.S. rivals.
Details of what the International Olympic Committee called an “emerging issue” were scant, but an Olympic news website said it involved a pre-competition doping test. USA Today said its source also confirmed a positive test involving an unnamed Russian competitor.
If any Russian skater were found to be doping, it would constitute a major blow to the IOC after its decision to allow Russian athletes to compete despite a worldwide ban on the Russian national team because of systematic state-sponsored doping.