51�Թ�

But the integrity unit rejected the athlete’s theory as “unspecific and highly unlikely,” adding that since meldonium has been banned for nearly eight years, “it stands to reason that if such biotransformation had occurred, it would have already been identified.”

Abdelwahed maintained that he never used meldonium and that the positive case was the result of a biotransformation process involving a supplement.

“Ascertaining the involvement of a novichok agent and its biotransformation products in this case was only achieved several days after establishing the diagnosis of cholinesterase inhibitor poisoning and did not affect therapeutic decision,” they write.

This is work on a new frontier, spawning new language - biotransformation, biological blueprints, designing a living chassis, seeing cells as factories.

That process, known as biotransformation, has been demonstrated in animal studies, and lead author Helena Nilsson of Sweden’s Orebro University said her group’s research now reveals for the first time “direct evidence of human biotransformation.”