Russian Embassy In Austria Says Requested Data On Doping Charges Against Biathletes

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th December, 2018) The Russian embassy in Austria has requested official information about the reported investigation into members of the Russian national biathlon team from the EU country's law enforcement, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky said on Thursday.

Late on Wednesday, Russian tv host Dmitry Guberniev posted on Instagram a list of 10 members of the Russian team allegedly charged with the violation of anti-doping rules during the 2017 Biathlon World Championships in Austria's Hochfilzen.

"The Russian embassy in Austria has not received any official statements or requests on this situation ... We will work out this situation because the complete picture of it should be built. We are urgently requesting official information from the Austrian law enforcement," Lyubinsky said in a statement published by the embassy on Facebook.

The list published by Guberniev comprises an ex-coach, two medics, two massage therapists and five biathletes, including team leader Anton Shipulin.

Guberniev, who is currently accompanying the Russian team at this year's championships in Hochfilzen, also said that the Austrian police had arrived in the facility where the Russian biathletes are residing.

The TV host argued that the violation of anti-doping rules was a criminal offense in Austria.

Since 2015, Russian sports have been rocked by a doping scandal which resulted in sanctions against Russian athletes, including stripping some of them of their 2016 Summer Olympics medals and imposing restrictions on the Russian national team ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have refuted allegations of the existence of the state-run doping program but admitted there were issues with doping abuse in Russia.