Russian biathlete Pyleva banned for two years

Russian biathlete Olga Pyleva has been banned for two years by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) on Friday after her positive test for a banned substance.

"We have had the hearing with the athlete and we spoke to her doctor this morning. The IBU has decided to give a two-year ban to both of them," IBU chief Anders Besseberg said in a statement.

Pyleva, the gold medalist of the 10km pursuit at the Salt Lake City Games four years ago, won the silver medal in the women's 15km individual biathlon on Monday, and was stopped from competing in the 7.5km sprint race.

The IOC has conducted 380 tests since the athletes' village opened Jan. 31. A total of 1,200 samples are being tested at the Feb. 10-26 Games, a 72 percent increase over the number in Salt Lake City, where there were seven doping cases total.

Source: Xinhua