Moscow, Feb 23 (IANS): Russian curlers Anastasia Bryzgalova and Aleksandr Krushelnitskii returned the bronze medal they won in the mixed doubles at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics after the male athlete was disqualified for doping.

Krushelnitskii tested positive for meldonium, which led the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to disqualify him and his partner, reports Efe.

The bronze medal was returned to the International Olympic Committee and the athletes left South Korea, the Russian delegation said on Thursday.

"The athlete has accepted a provisional suspension beyond the period of the Games and reserved his rights to seek the elimination or reduction of any period of ineligibility based on 'no fault or negligence' following the conclusion of the Games," the CAS said in the statement.

The Russian curling federation is set to conduct an investigation into the incident.

Krushelnitskii, who could face sanctions by the World Curling Federation, said he will seek to prove his innocence.