Skip to main content

Nikolai Kuksenkov has tested positive for meldonium

By
Initial reports coming out of Russia suggest that Kuksenkov's absence from today's event finals at Russian nationals were the result of his withdrawal on the basis of a positive drugs test taken on 15th March.

Valentina Rodionenko says the test showed a 'minimal' measure and stresses that gymnasts stopped taking Mildronate last August.  Investigations are taking place to understand how long the substance can remain the bloodstream after withdrawal.

This is obviously disappointing for the gymnast, coaches and the wider team.  We wait to hear more and to consider the implications.


Update 3/4 - WADA conducting research into the rate of excretion of meldonium.  Decisions about athletes' guilt are pending.  http://www.sports.ru/biathlon/1038710792.html
Labels:

Comments

  1. Anonymous4 April 2016 at 07:43

    Will Kuksenkov be barred from going to Rio now that he tested positive? I seriously hope not, because it would be a great loss for the Russia's MAG. Plus, it would be a shame not to see his sexy gaze in the competition. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Queen Elizabeth4 April 2016 at 09:01

    I think we will have to wait and see, pending the various investigations that are ongoing. At this stage he cannot be selected to compete at any international competition. These things take time :-(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4 April 2016 at 17:51

    Geez...I wonder if this can affect the whole team. There are some speculation about how the whole Russian volleyball team could be banned from Rio because one single player tested positive for meldonium. I heard somewhere that this substance can remain in the organismo for months after the person stop taking, so maybe that's the reason why Kuksenkov and many others tested positive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queen Elizabeth5 April 2016 at 09:49

      I've not read anything to the effect of the whole team being affected. That doesn't really seem to be logical.
      Then again, much that is happening in Russia and WADA is difficult to follow at present. The drug is now illegal and Kuksenkov probably won't be allowed to compete in Rio, barring a change of heart somewhere powerful. Let's just hope that no other positive tests show up in gymnastics.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simone and the others - results and reflections

By
In the end, it was as predicted : Simone and the others, with Simone's teammate, Alexandra Raisman, providing the back up.  I do not need to point out that, by definition, the Americans are scoring significantly higher marks than the rest of the field.  Congratulations to them! Aliya Mustafina finished in third place.  The 2012 bronze medalist led the competition after vault and uneven bars, but had a very nervous outing on beam that might have taken a less experienced gymnast out of the medals.  A bravura performance on floor brought Aliya back though to confirm her third place all around.  From her senior debut in 2010 to today, Mustafina has continuously set high standards of grace.    It is the first time since 2000 that a gymnast (Amanar) has medalled in the all around at two consecutive Olympics, and  if Aliya can medal on Saturday's uneven bars final, she will once again be Russia's biggest medal winner of the women's gymnastics.  Russ...
56 comments
Read more

Who really won the WAG All Around?

By
You will find a link to the FIG's newly published book of results at the Olympic Games here .  This year, they have broken down the judge's execution scores so you can see exactly how each judge evaluated the gymnasts' performances.  It makes for interesting reading - if only I had more time to analyse each judge's marking.  A skim reading already highlights multiple inconsistencies in individual judges' marks and makes you wonder why they bother with the jury at all. I have taken the time to look at the reference judges' scores for the top four in the women's all around.  The FIG explains here what their role is, and how they are selected.  I even used my calculator, which is a risky thing in my hands.  My, how I wish we could have seen a similar document for the Tokyo World Championships. I wonder if anyone can explain how, if the FIG's Code of Points is so objective and fair, it is possible to come up with two different results using two differ...
70 comments
Read more

Aliya Mustafina - 'each medal is very special'

By
'I'm very happy that everything turned out well today  ... Each medal is very special.  The UK team made mistakes, so there was a wide margin [of victory]... But naturally, [what I did] is not enough for the Olympics.  I prepared well for beam and bars but I am not ready for floor, I stepped up to help the team. ... To be honest, I did not look at the scores [when asked how the team reacted to the 6.5 gap before the final apparatus].  Gelya (Melnikova) is a good girl, she did everything and did not falter ... Seda fell on quite a complex element.  There is more work to do, but everything else went well.' [About a protest taken by the coaches on her beam score]. 'I am used to my protests being rejected, everything is normal!' Via vk.com I n other news , the UEG has confirmed that Spiridonova will replace Melnikova in tomorrow's bars final. No reason is given, but it is generally considered that Dasha has a better chance of gold.  This decision also means tha...
63 comments
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more