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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Fraser Watson

Ukrainian bobsledder Lidiia Hunko tests positive for banned drug at Winter Olympics

Ukrainian bobsledder Lidiia Hunko has become the latest athlete to test positive for a banned substance at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed on Thursday that Hunko, 28, that a sample taken on Monday had contained an anabolic steroid.

Hunko is alleged to have taken dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone, a substance, found to improve speed and power, that UFC star Jon Jones famously tested positive for in 201 7.

The former strongwomen competitor and weightlifter switched sports in 2018, and this week became the first female bobsledder to represent the Ukraine at a Winter Games when she competed in the newly formed monobob competition.

(Future Publishing via Getty Imag)

However, despite making the final, the European Cup bronze medalist could only finish 20th, more than nine seconds behind American gold medal winner Kaillie Humphries.

The 28-year-old is now set to have her result annulled though, having been provisionally suspended.

She is second Ukrainian athlete to test positive at the Games after cross-country skier Valentyna Kamiska - who finished 79th in the women's 10 kilometre classic event, 70th in the women's sprint free qualifications and 18th as part of her team in the 4x5km relay - tested positive for three banned substances.

Iranian skier Saveh Shemshaki also returned a positive doping test last week.

The Games have thus far been overshadowed by the scandal surrounding Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who initially stunned the world when she landed a quadruple axel in the team competition, helping her team to overall gold.

However, the medal ceremony was then delayed when it emerged that the 15-year-old had tested positive for a banned substance back on December 25 - but the Russian Anti-Doping Agency [RUSADA] duly lifted her provisional suspension.

The sandal surrounding Kamila Valieva has overshadowed the Winter Olympics (Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images)

The World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] appealed that decision, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] rejected their bid, citing 'exceptional circumstances' with Valieva being classed as a minor.

That prompted widespread condemnation, but despite the frenzied scrutiny, pre-event favourite Valieva finished the first day of the individual competition on Tuesday as overall leader.

However, she made multiple errors in her final display on Thursday, eventually finishing fourth, and left the ice in floods of tears.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has since criticised Valieva's coach and entourage, who in the immediate aftermath of their athlete's display, appeared to question her attitude and refused to comfort her.

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