Canadian Olympian's wife caught in latest Russian doping scandal: report

Canadian Olympic athlete Dylan Armstrong responded Tuesday to the news that his wife, Russian Olympian Evgeniia Kolodko, has reportedly tested positive for doping.

Russia's public sports channel Match TV reports that 2012 shot put silver medallist Kolodko, 25, and hammer throw gold medallist Tatyana Beloborodova tested positive for prohibited substances from their A samples.

Under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a second, or B sample, must reveal a positive test in order for an athlete to be banned from future competitions. It's unclear what substances the Russian athletes tested positive for.

Armstrong is also a shot putter who, ironically, was awarded a bronze medal for his performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics only after Belarus's Andrei Mikhnevich was disqualified in 2015 for doping.

"[This] news is especially difficult as it affects both the Olympic athletic community I am part of and someone I love deeply," Armstrong said in a statement emailed to CBC Sports on Tuesday. 

Kolodko and Armstrong met in 2012 and were married last September in a private civil ceremony in British Columbia.

Armstrong added: "News of athlete doping is very disheartening for competitive athletes who are committed to competing clean. I have never condoned doping in sport. I also know personally how disheartening it can be after waiting more than 6 years ... to receive my Olympic bronze medal due to the doping practices of a competitor. I have been consistently outspoken about my position on doping, which is zero tolerance."

Renowned throwing expert Anatoliy Bondarchuk, who guided Armstrong's career, also coached Kolodko.

B samples to be tested

Last Saturday, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) confirmed eight of the country's athletes have registered positive in doping retests for the 2012 London Games.

While the organization did not give names or what disciplines the athletes were in, it said they came from three different sports.

Armstrong said he will encourage Kolodko to be fully co-operative with WADA and all governing bodies as they decide which steps should be taken next. 

The ROC said further information would not be released until the B samples were tested that would either confirm or contradict the positive results.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stores Olympic doping samples for 10 years to re-analyze them when newer methods become available.

Last Friday, the IOC said 23 athletes from five sports and six countries had positive findings in retests with improved techniques on 265 samples from the London Games.

"I will offer my love, patience and support to Evgeniia as she responds to the news," said Armstrong. "I will not be speaking on behalf of Evgeniia on this matter."