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RUSADA lifts meldonium ban from two Russian cyclists

Anastasia Chulkova EPA/DAVID CROSLING

Anastasia Chulkova

© EPA/DAVID CROSLING

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has lifted temporary bans from cyclists Anastasia Chulkova and Pavel Yakushevsky imposed for taking meldonium, the head of the country’s Cycling Federation said on Friday.

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"Temporary bans from our athletes suspected of taking meldonium have been lifted," Yuri Kucheryavy told TASS. "They can be sent to training camps but cannot take part in competitions due to the remaining procedural issues. These athletes will have to give explanations."

According to WADA’s most recent data, a total of over 170 doping samples worldwide tested positive for meldonium, including some 30 Russian athletes. Among them are tennis star Maria Sharapova, Olympic medalist in swimming Yulia Efimova and Olympic medalist in speed skating Pavel Kulizhnikov.

On Wednesday, WADA announced that the concentration of less than one microgram of meldonium in the body system of an athlete, whose doping tests were conducted before March 1, was acceptable and the athlete at the issue was not a subject to any sanctions whatsoever.

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