2006年VOA标准英语-Russian Biathlete Out of Olympics for Dopi（在线收听）

By Steve Schy
Cesana, San Sicario
16 February 2006
 

Biathlon competition at Cesana, San Sicario  
  
It was hazy and mild in Turin, but it was snowing hard up in the mountains as 83 women started the 7.5-kilometer biathlon event. However, an 84th entrant, Olga Pyleva of Russia, was not allowed to compete because of a positive doping test. VOA's Steve Schy has the story from Cesana, San Sicario.

----------------------------------------------------

 
Olga Pyleva
  
One of the favorites in Thursday's 7.5-kilometer biathlon event, Olga Pyleva of Russia, has been thrown out of the Turin Olympics after becoming the first athlete to fail a drug test. The Russian, who won the women's 15-kilometers Monday, tested positive for a banned stimulant, carphedon, after winning the gold medal.

The head of Russia's anti-doping committee, Nikolai Durmanov, said an over-the-counter medication given to Pyleva by a doctor last month for an ankle injury was responsible for the positive test. An announcement before Thursday's event blamed the 30-year-old Pyleva's absence on illness. 

Florence Baverel-Robert   
  
But the sun came out as Florence Baverel-Robert of France skied and shot her way to the gold medal in 22:31.4 Thursday. After the race she was asked about Pyleva's positive test.

"Yes, I did hear about this, but I really don't even really want to think about it too much," she said. "I think I have to live with my own conscience and that is what counts for me. I think it is a great pity that this sort of thing happens because this will not do the sport any good and I am rather disappointed. But that is as far as my thoughts on the matter really go. I don't really want to elaborate on the concept." 
 
 
Lilia Efremova
  
Baverel-Robert finished 2.4 seconds ahead of silver-medalist Anna Carin Oloffson of Sweden, while first-time Olympian Lilia Efremova of Ukraine was the surprise bronze medal winner.

"All I can say is that I felt quite tired but I don't have reflections about being involved in a race or in a sprintm," Efremova said. "You don't think when you sprint, you just sprint."

Rachel Steer was the top American biathlete, finishing 1:58.2 behind Florence Baverel-Robert in 35th place.