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Olympic wrestling medalist tests positive for meldonium

Davit Modzmanashvili

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan (red) and Davit Modzmanashvili of Georgia compete for the bronze medal in the Men’s Freestyle 120 kg Wrestling on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

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MOSCOW (AP) -- Olympic wrestling silver medalist Davit Modzmanashvili of Georgia has admitted to using meldonium, the same substance Maria Sharapova tested positive for at the Australian Open.

Vakhtang Blagidze, a Georgia national wrestling team coach, says Modzmanashvili tested positive for the drug last month. He faces a possible life ban for a second doping violation.

Another five members of the Georgian team tested positive for meldonium but their names have not been released because they deny the charge.

Modzmanashvili won the men’s 120-kilogram silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2012 Olympics. He also won World Championships bronze in 2011.

The federation says that none of the six were confirmed to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, but that qualification was still possible.

MORE: What is Meldonium?