On 8 March 2016, it was known Elistratov failed a drug test for meldonium and was withdrawn from entry list for Russia's Team to compete at the 2016 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea. He was temporarily suspended from the Russian team. On 13 April, the World Anti-Doping Agency gave amnesty to athletes with the presence of less than 1 microgram of meldonium in doping samples in tests conducted on athletes before 1 March 2016 is acceptable, WADA cites due to uncertainties and lack of studies for how long meldonium stays in the body. On 21 April 2016, the International Skating Union lifted its temporary ban on Elistratov and he was reinstated in the team, since the concentration of meldonium was below the threshold.