Missing the target

Last week, the Russian biathlon team lost three of its leaders: the International Biathlon Union disqualified Dmitry Yaroshenko, Albina Akhatova and the current world leader Ekaterina Yuryeva for doping. The results of the World Cup stages in which they performed will be reviewed. The exact period of disqualification will be announced only in two weeks, but it is already clear that all three athletes will not be able to compete in any competition for at least two years and will miss the next two Olympics - Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. In the blood of biathletes, the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found traces of banned erythropoietin (EPO), moreover, handicraft Russian production. This drug increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood and makes it easier to endure stress. In the autumn of 2008, WADA improved the list of prohibited drugs and included several varieties of EPO in it - too often athletes came across it on it. Last summer, two Italian cyclists and three Russian walkers were disqualified for using the EPO; doctors who helped them cover up doping were not punished. Now, so far, only athletes have suffered again: immediately after the opening of the “B” samples, the biathletes were expelled from the team in disgrace and sent from the Korean Pyeongchang, where they were preparing for the World Championships, back to Russia. In a conversation with a Newsweek correspondent, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko promised that he would thoroughly investigate the current doping incident and that this time it would not only go to athletes. "The time will come - and all those responsible will be punished," the minister assured.