Russian dope case rocks Winter Olympics, Shiffrin trims schedule

A doping case involving a medal-winning Russian curler rocked thePyeongchang Winter Olympics yesterday, as Mikaela Shiffrin’s turbulentGames took another twist when she pulled out of the downhill skiing.Alexander Krushelnitsky’s failed drug test came to light a week after hewon mixed doubles bronze with his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova, and couldextend Russia’s suspension from the Olympics.The case, now with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, will beconsidered by Olympic officials deciding whether to lift Russia’s ban intime for Sunday’s closing ceremony. “Should this case be proven... thatwill also be part of the consideration as to whether there will be anallowance for them to march in the closing ceremony under their flag,”said International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams.Russia were banned from the Olympics after investigations revealed anextensive doping plot culminating at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, wherethe hosts topped the medals table. But 168 Russian athletes declared clean after extensive vetting wereallowed to compete in Pyeongchang as neutrals, under the banner of“Olympic Athletes from Russia”.“Only athletes for whom there was no suspicion were invited to theGames,” Adams said, adding: “Unfortunately wherever there’s competitivesport, you’ll have people cheating. But I think you can be prettyconfident we have a very, very thorough testing process in place and wehave the experts with the expertise who are doing that.”Among yesterday’s events, Canada and Germany shared gold when theydead-heated in the two-man bobsleigh — the first time two teams haveshared the title since Nagano 1998. Robert Johansson and his bushyhandlebar moustache anchored Norway to victory in the men’s team skijump, while Havard Lorentzen won the men’s 500m speed skating as Norwaywent clear on the medals table with 11 golds to Germany’s 10. Shiffrinarrived in Pyeongchang capable of challenging, Michael Phelps-style, forfive gold medals, but it has been a tough Games so far for theAmerican. After bombing in the slalom and pulling out of the super-G,she announced her withdrawal from the downhill yesterday as looming badweather forced yet another schedule change.It means that Shiffrin, who won the giant slalom, can finish with amaximum of two individual golds, with just Thursday’s combined eventleft on her schedule. “As much as I wanted to compete in the Olympicdownhill, with the schedule change, it’s important for me to focus myenergy on preparing for the combined,” said Shiffrin.She made the announcement after Friday’s combined was brought forward toThursday to avoid bad weather. The downhill is scheduled for tomorrow.Earlier yesterday, French officials said Shiffrin’s partner, skierMathieu Faivre, had been sent home for disciplinary reasons after anoutburst following Sunday’s men’s giant slalom.In figure skating, Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir smashed theshort dance world record, but French rival Gabriella Papadakis was leftin tears by an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. As Virtue and Moirglided, twizzled and spun their way to a best-ever score of 83.67,Papadakis performed stoically with her partner Guillaume Cizeron afterher dress became unclipped early in their routine. “It was prettydistracting, my worst nightmare at the Olympics,” the 22-year-oldPapadakis said. “I felt it right away and I prayed.”