Russian Skier Recovering
The Russian freestyle skier who broke her back at the Sochi Olympics is in satisfactory condition and doing half-hour physical workouts every day, a doctor with the country's freestyle federation was quoted as saying Sunday.
Maria Komissarova sustained a fractured vertebra with dislocation in a crash in training at the PSX Olympic skicross venue at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park last month.
Russian doctors performed a six-and-a-half-hour operation immediately, and the 23-year-old was then transferred to Munich for further care, including a second and a third operation.
She remains in the Bavarian capital undergoing neurorehabilitation, which can take up to six months, officials have said.
"Komissarova is undergoing treatment according to the plan drawn up by the medical council," Mirzali Samedov was quoted as saying on the Russian Freestyle Federation’s website. He added Komissarova's overall condition was satisfactory.
"After a course of antibiotics, her temperature returned to normal. Maria is receiving muscle toning treatment and is also taken to the gym where she does physical sessions for half an hour (a day)," Samedov added. "Her nutrition and sleep pattern is also normal."
She posted a message on Instagram last week saying that she had no feeling from the waist down but still insisted, "I am strong and I know that one day I'll definitely stand up."
Komissarova's best result came with second place at a World Cup event in 2012, but she was not seen as a medal contender in the women's ski cross competition, which was won by Canada’s Marielle Thompson.
Second Latvian Ice Hockey Player Suspected of Doping
Latvia’s Olympic Committee says another one of its ice hockey players is suspected of having tested positive for a banned substance in Sochi.
Zorzs Tikmers, the secretary general for Latvia’s Olympic body, tweeted, "I can only confirm that there is another suspect test from hockey."
He then said he could not comment further because the case is still pending.
Latvia player Vitalijs Pavlovs tested positive for a banned stimulant after the team’s quarterfinal loss to Canada.
Written by RIA Novostiand Nick Devlin
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