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Favorite Russia pulls out of cross country relay
Reuters News Service
SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah — Favorite Russia pulled out of the women's 4x5 km cross-country relay at the Winter Olympics on Thursday after five-time gold medallist Larisa Lazutina was withdrawn following a blood test.
The Russian team immediately launched a protest because it said it had been unable to replace Lazutina in time for the race which was won by Germany.
Ukraine also did not start the race. There was no immediate explanation for its withdrawal.
Vitali Smirnov, a Russian vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, said the out of competition test showed Lazutina's red blood cell count was above the level permitted by the international skiing federation, FIS.
Smirnov said he had filed an official protest because the team was not informed quickly enough to name a replacement.
"We had a sure gold medal and it was just taken away," he told reporters. Smirnov said he had talked to IOC president Jacques Rogge about the situation.
An unnaturally high red blood cell level can be a sign of the use of artificial blood-boosting drugs such as EPO.
Smirnov said Lazutina's haemoglobin level was 15.8, above what he said was the FIS's permitted level of 15.0.
But a spokesman for the IOC medical commission said the FIS level was 16.0. Lazutina will now undergo a urine test.
Russia, winner of the event at the last four Games, had been hot favorites to take the race which got underway with only 13 of the 15 teams. Norway won the silver and Switzerland the bronze.
In 1999, Marco Pantani was disqualified from the Tour of Italy while leading the race after blood tests showed he had a haematocrit (red blood cell) level above the 50 percent limit allowed in cycling.
EPO, a quick shot-in-the-arm which replaces expensive high altitude training, can boost the red blood cells which carry oxygen to the muscles but it is very dangerous because it can thicken the blood and leave athletes open to cardiac arrest.
Lazutina, 36, came to the Games hoping to beat the women's record for the most Winter Olympic golds. On Wednesday, Russia expressed anger at a blood test carried out on biathlon team captain, Pavel Rostovtsev, before his opening race in the 20 kms, when he finished sixth. Team officials said testers had taken far too much blood from Rostovtsev, destroying his chances of a medal.
"We are now talking to the IOC chiefs so we can stop this and protect our team from future provocations," Viktor Mamatov, Russia's chief de mission, said on Wednesday.
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February 21, 2002
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