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Doping scandal in Russian sports

Austrian police cannot confirm accusations against Russian biathletes — spokesman

Russian TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev said earlier that police have accused several Russian biathletes and coaches of violating anti-doping rules at the 2017 Biathlon World Championships

© EPA/SEBASTIAN WIDMANN

VIENNA, December 13. /TASS/. Austria's Federal Police in Tirol does not have any information about accusations leveled against Russian biathletes over their alleged violation of anti-doping rules during the 2017 World Biathlon Championships in Hochfilzen, police spokesman Stefan Eder told TASS on Thursday.

"As of now, we have not received any informaiton on this matter from Hochfilzen," the spokesman said. He added that they might receive some information about accusations against Russian biathletes in the morning.

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Russian Embassy in Vienna to examine situation with accusations against Russian biathletes

The main office of Austria's Federal Police also told TASS that it cannot confirm anything at this point and recommended to wait until tomorrow.

Russian TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev said earlier that police have accused several Russian biathletes and coaches of violating anti-doping rules at the 2017 Biathlon World Championships.

"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 posted on his Instagram account. 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.

A source familiar with the matter told TASS that Austrian police did indeed visit the Russian national team. The source noted that nobody was detained and confirmed that Garanichev, Loginov, Starykh and Tipychkanov were currently in Hochfilzen.

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Austria Doping scandal in Russian sports Biathlon

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