Ukraine’s Artem Tyshchenko has had his provisional suspension after testing positive for recently banned substance meldonium lifted ©Getty Images

Ukraine’s Artem Tyshchenko has had his provisional suspension after testing positive for meldonium lifted, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) has announced.

The IBU have also requested former world junior champion Eduard Latypov of Russia have his ban lifted following the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) being forced to issue a statement to clarify the situation surrounding the drug, only added to their prohibited list on January 1.

The IBU have put forward Latypov’s case to their independent Anti-Doping Hearing Panel.

The Russian has waived his right to a B-sample analysis, according to the IBU.

Biathlon’s worldwide governing body were one of the first to question the effects of meldonium.

Their Disciplinary Panel appointed an expert who questioned the scientific evidence on how long it takes to leave the body.

The expert gave results of a “pilot” study conducted into meldonium, which “contradicted the present state of literature” on the drug.

Russia's Olympic short track speed skating champion Semion Elistratov is one of the most high-profile athletes to have had their provisional suspension for meldonium lifted ©Getty Images
Russia's Olympic short track speed skating champion Semion Elistratov is one of the most high-profile athletes to have had their provisional suspension for meldonium lifted ©Getty Images

A timeline on the studies was not established by the IBU.

As a result, decisions on Tyshchenko and fellow Ukrainian biathlete Olga Abramova were delayed.

WADA’s statement raised the possibility that athletes facing doping bans for meldonium could avoid punishment if below one microgram of the heart attack drug was detected and their failed test came before March 1.

This led to huge criticism and suggestions they had bungled the process, something denied by WADA President Sir Craig Reedie.

A spate of athletes have recently had their provisional bans lifted as a result, including Olympic short track speed skating champion Semion Elistratov of Russia and team-mate Pavel Kulizhnikov, who served a two-year doping suspension back in 2014.

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency, which remains non-compliant from the WADA code, have also announced they have decided not to disqualify seven other athletes who registered positive tests for meldonium, which was thrust into the limelight after five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova revealed she had tested positive for the substance last month.

These include former world track cycling champion Anastasia Chulkova, as well as wrestlers Sergey Semyonov and Davt Chakvetadze, and track and field athletes Nadezhda Kotlyarova, Gulshat Fazletdinova, Andrey Minzhulin and Olga Vovk.