For the 2015–16 season, Kulizhnikov competed at the 2015–16 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary, winning the 500 m with a new Russian record of 34.11.

[11] On the third day of competition in 500 m race, Kulizhnikov unexpectedly fell in the inner corner in his mid-race and finished 20th, teammate Ruslan Murashov won the event.

[16][17] On 13 April, the World Anti-Doping Agency gave amnesty to athletes with the presence of less than one microgram of meldonium in blood.

Doping samples in tests conducted on athletes before 1 March 2016 with abnormal levels of the drug are acceptable, WADA cited due to uncertainties and lack of studies for how long meldoniumnstays in the body.

[18] On 21 April 2016, the International Skating Union lifted its temporary ban on Kulizhnikov, and he was reinstated in the team since the concentration of meldonium was below the threshold.

[19] The International Skating Union's Official Statement was quoted: "In the case of Meldonium, the WADA recognized that there is currently a lack of clear scientific information on excretion time and considers that in certain circumstances there may be grounds for no fault or negligence on the part of the athlete.

All mentioned skaters credibly assured the ISU that they had discontinued the use of Meldonium before 1 January 2016, when the substance was included in the prohibited list.

[22] Kulizhnikov entered the 2020 World Single Distances Championships, taking place at Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City.

[25] Kulizhnikov held the world record for just under four years before Jordan Stolz lowered it on 26 January 2024, also in Salt Lake City.