Solomennikov, Maikin and Ovechkin provide positive A samples for unnamed substance
After an earlier positive test in April, the Russian Pro Continental team Rusvelo is under increasing pressure now after three more of its riders failed tests in recent weeks.
The Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA has announced that Andrey Solomennikov, Roman Maikin and Artem Ovechkin had positive A samples in the national championships in Samara between June 21st and 23rd.
Ovechkin placed third in the individual time trial and also finished in the same position in similar tests this year in the Tours of Belgium and Slovenia.
Solomennikova took third in the national road race championships, while Maikina finished sixteenth in that race. Earlier this year, he was fourth on a stage of the Ster ZLM Toer.
The substances in question have not yet been named by RUSADA.
In April, Valery Kaykov was provisionally suspended in relation to the black market substance GW501516. It which was never cleared for human use after it caused tumours in animals it was tested on, but has been found in several positive cases this year.
The Rusvelo team is a member of the anti-doping MPCC group and is now facing a suspension after having four positive case in three months.
Under MPCC rules, teams should automatically suspend themselves when there have been several positive cases.