IBU Press Release

http://www.biathlonworld.com/en/press_releases/do/detail.html?presse=2779&vorschau=true

16.02.2016, Salzburg

Subject: 1) Waiving of B sample by Olga ABRAMOVA of Ukraine and 2) immediate provisional suspension of another athlete due to detection of the same substance as in case of Ms. Abramova. The detected substance in case of both athletes is new on the WADA prohibited list 2016.

1) Ms. Olga Abramova has now waived her right of opening the B sample. Ms. Abramova's adverse analytical finding in the A sample was the result of a sample collected in Ruhpolding, Germany on January, 10 2016 as an In-Competition test at IBU World Cup. The report from the laboratory in Cologne of the urine sample showed the presence of Meldonium. This substance was added to the WADA prohibited list in January, 2016. Meldonium belongs to group S4: Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. As the substance detected is prohibited under the applicable Prohibited List, the IBU will now initiate the disciplinary procedure, and the case will be assigned to the IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel for adjudication. With regard to formal procedure and according to the IBU Anti-Doping Rules, Art. 7.1.5, the A sample result is thus officially accepted by the athlete. The IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel will schedule a hearing of Ms. Abramova, which will be held in the near future. 2) Today IBU decided to provisionally suspend another athlete (further referred to as "the affected athlete") due to an adverse analytical finding in athlete's A sample. The affected athlete, WADA and the respective National Federation were notified according to the IBU Anti-Doping Rules in compliance with the WADA Code. The suspension is mandatory, as the substance is defined under hormones and metabolic modulators and it is new on the WADA prohibited list as of 1 January 2016. It was detected by the IBU during an IBU Cup in January.  The suspension takes immediate effect. A provisional suspension means that the affected athlete is banned temporarily from participating in any IBU competition. In order to protect the affected athlete's personal right to confidentiality and the integrity of the results management process, the IBU will at this stage not release the name or nationality of the athlete. The affected athlete has now the right to choose between two options: Option 1: Opening of the B sample and analysis Option 2: Waiving the B sample If the affected athlete chooses option 1, the B sample analysis will take place as soon as possible. If the B sample analysis confirms the A sample then a disciplinary process under the IBU Anti – Doping Rules in accordance with the WADA Code will be initiated before the IBU Anti – Doping Hearing Pane. If the B sample analysis proves negative, the provisional suspension will automatically be invalid. If the affected athlete chooses option 2, this means the result of the A sample is accepted by the athlete. A disciplinary process under the IBU Anti – Doping Rules will then be initiated before the IBU Anti – Doping Hearing Panel. At the moment this is not considered a positive doping case. Further relevant information concerning the affected athlete will be released once the process reaches its conclusion. As for Ms. Abramova's case, her provisional suspension will remain valid until the final decision is taken by the IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel. The final decision will be published as soon as possible.