The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has provisionally suspended two athletes, after it decided to re-analyse samples showing atypical results from previous seasons. In total, five samples tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO). Three of the samples related to two athletes already suspended on 14 July 2014 – Ekaterina Iourieva and Irina Starykh. However, two related to new athletes, who have been provisionally suspended from 25 November and 15 December 2014. ‘The details with regard to the two latter cases will be communicated as soon as this is legally possible’, read an IBU statement.

Iourieva was issued with an eight-year ban from 13 December 2013 and Starykh was banned for two years from 23 December. The IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel will now consider whether their ban should be increased. Both have waived their right to have their B-sample analysed.