Ukrainian biathlete Sergei Sednev fails doping test

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) " Ukrainian biathlete Sergei Sednev, a bronze medalist at the 2011 world championships, faces a possible two-year ban after a retest of a stored doping sample came back positive for EPO.

The International Biathlon Union said Monday that Sednev was targeted as part of a program to re-test older samples which "showed atypical results in the previous seasons."

Sednev's re-analyzed sample was collected in an out-of-competition test in Antholz, Italy, in January 2013. The IBU said the sample was retested at a World Anti-Doping Agency lab and was positive for the banned blood-booster EPO.

The Ukrainian biathlon federation said in a statement Monday it had questioned Sednev, who "could not explain or disprove" the test results.

Sednev, who won a bronze medal in the relay at the 2011 championships, announced last month that he was retiring at the age of 31.

The IBU on Monday also confirmed a positive EPO test for Russia's Alexander Loginov, who had already been suspended by his country's biathlon federation in November when it was notified of the news.

His case stems from a retested sample originally taken in November 2013 in Ostersund, Sweden.

The IBU said Sednev and Loginov both waived their right to have their backup "B'' samples tested. The IBU said they face hearings and sanctions from a disciplinary panel.

Sednev and Loginov both competed at last year's Winter Olympics in Sochi. Although neither won medals, they could now have their results nullified.

Sednev was 44th in the 10-kilometer sprint and 54th in the 12.5K pursuit. The 22-year-old Loginov, whose four world junior gold medals made him as one of Russia's most promising talents, was 30th in the 20K individual race in Sochi.

The IBU previously announced positive EPO tests in reanalyzed samples involving Russian biathletes Ekaterina Iourieva and Irina Staryk. Former world champion Iourieva was banned for eight years, while Staryk was suspended for two.

Norwegian media on Saturday quoted IBU president Anders Besseberg as saying his organization had evidence of doping by athletes from several nations.