Winter Olympics: Russian medalist expelled for doping

TURIN - Doping struck the Winter Olympics on Thursday, bruising a Games officials had hoped would restore the image of clean sports competition after the scandals of the Athens Summer Games.

Russian Olga Pyleva, who took the silver medal in Monday's 15km individual biathlon, was thrown out and stripped of her medal after the International Olympic Committee confirmed a positive doping test.

"Doping cases are things that happen in Olympic Games. We have to tackle that and we are doing that with great energy," IOC President Jacques Rogge told Reuters Television.

Pyleva tested positive for carphedon, a banned stimulant, on Feb. 13 after the women's 15km individual biathlon.

She now faces an Italian criminal prosecution, under Italy's strict anti-doping laws.

Nikolai Durmanov, head of the anti-doping inspection at the Russian Olympic Commission, said Pyleva had taken the banned stimulant inadvertently in some medicine.

"On the packet it had nothing saying it contained carphedon ... It even has instructions saying it can be used by athletes," he told reporters.

It was the first suspension of the Games, which for five days had been a celebration of sporting achievement and had officials hoping that the doping scandals that soured the Athens Games were a thing of the past.

It did not impress Martina Glagow who was elevated into the silver medal spot from bronze in the 15km individual biathlon.

"I don't want the silver medal. If I didn't win it on the track, it's useless," she told Reuters. "I'm shocked. I've known Pyleva for a long time and really didn't expect something like this."

Russia's Albina Akhatova was promoted from fourth to bronze medallist.

World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound added to the sense that the battle against doping in Olympic sport was far from won, by saying he suspected that several cross-country skiers had taken banned substances.

"Frankly, we think we are dealing with doping," said Pound, also an IOC member. "It is too much of a coincidence to have 12 athletes with hugely high Hb (haemoglobin) levels just before the Games."

The International Skiing Federation (FIS) had suspended the 12 for five days due to health concerns, saying the likely cause was high altitude training.

Seven had reduced levels cells after re-testing and have been allowed to compete. Only one, a Belarussian, Sergey Dolidovich, must serve a further suspension after his red blood cell count did not drop sufficiently.

"I think we are going to have another look (after the Games). It is easier to deal with it as a health problem than doping problem," Pound said. "They (FIS) might be afraid that they are not able to prove that they were drugged."

The re-emergence of doping overshadowed Estonia's Kristina Smigun's achievement to become the first to win two gold medals at the Games when she triumphed in driving rain in the women's cross-country skiing 10km classical event, starting off the sixth day.

Smigun, winner of the 15km pursuit on Sunday, beat favourite Marit Bjoergen of Norway.

French biathlete Florence Baverel-Robert surprisingly won gold in the 7.5-km Olympic sprint, which involves skiing and shooting, while Norway's Hilde Pedersen took the honour of being the oldest woman to win an Olympic Winter Games medal.

Pedersen, who is 41 years and 189 days, took bronze in the cross-country skiing 10km classical event.

Austria won the Nordic combined team event for the first time in their history and Seth Wescott of the United States raced to gold as snowboard cross made a thrilling Olympic debut.

A gold was also all but sealed for Russian figure skater Yevgeny Plushenko, who takes to the rink later on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Russian holds a commanding lead over second-place American Johnny Weir heading into the free skate programme and even his rivals are all but conceding defeat.

Before the doping case was announced, officials had been saying how pleased they were with the Games.

"On day six, we are now seeing the Olympic Games really getting into their stride," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told a news conference. "They are really focusing on sport and on the athletes which at the end of the day is what it is all about."

- REUTERS