THE Russian Curling Federation claimed today that their bronze medallist Alexander Krushelnitsky failed a doping test after being deliberately targeted by rival athletes or “Russia’s political enemies.”

Krushelnitsky partnered wife Anastasia Bryzgalova to bronze in the mixed doubles at the Winter Olympics last week, beating Norway for a place on the podium.

However, news broke over the weekend that the 25-year-old tested positively for meldonium, the substance for which Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova was suspended after testing positive at the Australian Open in 2016.