The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recorded 123 positive doping tests for meldonium since it was added to the agency’s list of prohibited substances on Jan. 1, according to WADA spokesman Ben Nichols, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The drug — which trades under the name Mildronate and is made in Latvia — was widely distributed among Russian athletes.
On Monday, the R-Sport news agency reported that Russian athletes from more than 10 sports tested positive for meldonium in around 40 doping tests between January and February this year.
The names of 15 Russian athletes involved have already been released to the public, including tennis star Maria Sharapova, figure skater Yekaterina Bobrova, and speed-skating Olympic gold medallist Semyon Elistratov as well as four track and field athletes.