MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. /TASS/. Austrian police have accused several Russian biathletes and coaches of violating anti-doping rules at the 2017 Biathlon World Championships, TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev said on his Instagram account on Thursday.

"Several hours ago Austrian police contacted the Russian national team. Here is the list of athletes, coaches, doctors and massage therapists who were accused of violating anti-doping rules during the 2017 World Championships in Hochfilzen," Guberniev said in a caption to a photo of the list. Among athletes accused of violating anti-doping rules are 2014 Olympic champion Anton Shipulin, Evgeny Garanichev and Alexander Loginov. The list also includes biathletes Alexey Volkov, Irina Starykh, former coach of the Russian national team Alexander Kasperovich, doctors and massage therapists Artyom Kryntsilov, Alexander Selyavkin, Evgeny Shutov and Dmitry Topychkanov.

Guverniev later told Match TV channel that those on the list will have to provide explanations to the police on Thursday.

At the 2017 World Championships, Alexey Volkov, Maxim Tsvetkov, Anton Babikov and Anton Shipulin won gold in men's 4 x 7.5 km relay. Shipulin, Olga Podchufarova, Tatyana Akimova and Alexander Loginov also won bronze in mixed relay.

The second stage of Biathlon World Championships will be held in Austria's Hochfilzern on December 13-16. Garanichev, Loginov and Starykh will participate as part of the Russian national team. At the previous stage of the championship in Slovenia's Pokljuka, Loginov won two bronze medals - in men's sprint and men's pursuit.