Four Russian biathletes are suspected of using dope. The corresponding statement was published by the International Union of Biathlonists.

The organization notified the Russian Biathlon Union (SBR) and four Russian biathletes about the anti-doping rule violation.

As writes "SE", this list includes - Evgeny Ustyugov, Svetlana Sleptsova, Alexander Chernyshev and Alexander Pechenkin.

An investigation has been initiated against these athletes.

"The SBR and the said athletes have 14 days to respond to the message. If the anti-doping rule violation is not recognized as such, the case will be formally referred to the IBU anti-doping panel, the International Biathlon Union.

_______________________ Let's note, Ustyugov is a two-time Olympic champion (in 2010 in the mass start and in 2014 in the relay race). Completed his career after the end of the season-2013/14.

Sleptsova - Olympic Champion 2010 in the relay race. In the summer of 2017 completed her career.

Chernyshov - silver medalist of the Euro-2013 in the mixed relay. World Junior Champion 2011 in relay race, bronze medalist of World Cup 2013 among juniors in the relay race.

Pechenkin - European Champion 2011 in the mixed relay, European Champion-2015 relay race. The winner of the IBU Cup in the relay race (2012), silver medalist in the pursuit race (2013).

Earlier, Russia was deprived of the opportunity to stage the World Cup in biathlon because of the doping scandal.

_______________________ Recall, the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended at the end of 2017 on the basis of the work of IOC commissions under the leadership of Denis Oswald and Samuel Schmidt, who were testing doping samples of Russian athletes from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and studying "state interference" in the Russian anti-doping system.

So, Russian athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympics-2018 in the status of "Olympic athletes from Russia" and acted under a neutral flag.