MOSCOW: Russian sprinter Nadezhda Kotlyarova has tested positive for meldonium, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since January 1 this year, TASS news agency reported on Sunday.

Kotlyarova is the first Russian track-and-field athlete to test positive for meldonium since the ban.

Russia's athletics federation is racing against time to meet anti-doping standards dicated by the sports world governing body and have a cheating ban repealed in time for the Rio Olympics in August.