Three Russian speed skaters including Olympic 5,000m short track relay champion Semen Elistratov have been provisionally suspended after their B-Sample confirmed the presence of the newly-banned drug meldonium, the International Skating Union (ISU) said Friday.

Elistratov, 25, world 1,5000m champion last year, tested positive for the banned endurance-boosting substance along with short track skater Ekaterina Konstantinova and two-time world speed skating sprint champion Pavel Kulizhnikov.

"The B-Samples have confirmed the A-Sample Adverse Analytical Findings for the following skaters which have provisionally been suspended," the ISU confirmed.

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova confirmed recently she had failed a test for the drug at the Australian Open in January, claiming it was an honest mistake.

The case has triggered intense interest in meldonium, a hitherto little-known substance which is available as an over-the-counter medication in many parts of Eastern Europe but not approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration.
Source: AFP