The two published studies on meldonium excretion show that concentrations in urine samples fall below 1 μg/mL within a day or two -- so why did WADA suggest lifting provisional suspensions on athletes testing up to 15 μg/mL in the first two months of 2016?
The Olympic gold medalist said that he had used mildronate, also known as meldonium, in the past, but "[did] not even remember" the last time he had taken it and had seen in September that it would be added to the WADA Prohibited List.
Olga Abramova, a 27-year-old Russian-turned-Ukrainian, was identified as the mystery athlete who tested positive for a drug recently added to the WADA Prohibited List. Abramova had two top-10s at last year's World Championships in Kontiolahti, and won double gold at Summer Biathlon World Championships in August.
Herbal supplements and micronutrient vitamins are largely unregulated and may in fact contain substances prohibited by WADA. But a new study also shows that they cause thousands of emergency room visits per year in the U.S.