Police raid Kazakh biathlon team lodgings ahead of worlds
HOCHFILZEN, Austria — The Austrian federal criminal agency said Thursday it raided the lodgings of the Kazakh national biathlon team on the eve of the world championships on suspicion of doping.
Police said they seized medical equipment, drugs and mobile phones late Wednesday, adding that criminal authorities were investigating whether Austrian anti-doping laws have been breached.
Immediately after the raid, anti-doping officials visited the Kazakh team to conduct tests and take blood and urine samples.
Kazakhstan competed Thursday as planned in a 2×6-2×7.5-kilometre mixed relay, the opening event of the world championships. The team of Olga Poltoranina, Anna Kristanova, Maxim Braun and Yan Savitskiy finished 11th, nearly two minutes behind gold medallist Germany.