Russian athlete Mariya Savinova-Farsonova won Olympic Gold,, but now faces a lifetime ban of doping. (AFP: Olivier Morin)
The Daily Vertical is a video primer for Russia-watchers that appears Monday through Friday. Viewers can suggest topics via Twitter @PowerVertical or on the Power Vertical Facebook page.
A transcript of today’s Daily Vertical can be found here.
Clarification: In a press conference on March 9, the head of the Russian Skating Union, Aleksei Krastev, said the banned drug meldonium had been planted on Russian skaters “by other athletes” not other teams as stated in the video. The transcript has been revised to reflect this.