Russia defends rower banned from Olympics over doping (Yahoo Sports)

Russia’s top rowing official says a champion rower disqualified from the Olympics did not dope intentionally. Former Olympic gold medalist Sergei Fedorovtsev tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in May, causing Russia’s men’s quadruple sculls to be disqualified from the Rio de Janeiro Games on Thursday. Russian Rowing Federation president Veniamin But says Fedorovtsev’s positive test ”wasn’t an intentional act by him, but an accident,” in comments on Friday to Russian agency R-Sport.