Winter Olympics: Doping struck the Winter Olympics today, bruising a Games that 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 15-km 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. Pyleva tested positive for carphedon, a banned stimulant on Monday after the women's 15-km 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 15-km individual biathlon. "I don't want the silver medal. If I didn't win it on the track, it's useless," she said. "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.