Biathlete Ekaterina Iourieva gets eight-year ban for doping

Former world champion Russian biathlete Ekaterina Iourieva was banned for eight years for a second doping offense, the International Biathlon Union announced.

Former world champion Russian biathlete Ekaterina Iourieva was banned for eight years for a second doping offense, the International Biathlon Union announced.

The IBU said Iourieva tested positive for the blood-booster EPO in an out-of-competition test in December. All of Iourieva's competition results since last Dec. 23 are disqualified.

Iourieva, 31, announced her retirement two months later. Iourieva served a two-year ban for EPO use in 2009.

At the 2008 world championships, Iourieva won the gold medal in the 15-kilometer individual race, a silver in the 10km pursuit and a bronze medal in the 12.5km mass start. 

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- Scooby Axson