IOC sanctions German biathlete Evi Sachenbacher

Sochi, Feb 22, 2014: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that German biathlete Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle of Germany has been excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Sachenbacher-Stehle, 33, tested positive on 17 February for methylhexaneamine (dimethylpentylamine).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Denis Oswald (Chairman), Nawal El Moutawakel and Gunilla Lindberg, decided the following:

I. The Athlete, Ms Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, Germany, Biathlon:

(i) is disqualified from the following events:

– Women’s 12.5km Mass Start Biathlon event, where she placed 4th;

– 2x6km Women + 2×7.5km Men Mixed Relay Biathlon event, where she placed 4th;

(ii) shall have her diploma in the above-mentioned events withdrawn;

(iii) is excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014; and

(iv) shall have her Olympic identity and accreditation card cancelled immediately.

II. The 2x6km Women + 2×7.5km Men Mixed Relay relay team, composed of Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, Laura Dahlmeier, Daniel Boehm and Simon Schempp:

(i) is disqualified from the 2x6km Women + 2×7.5km Men Mixed Relay Biathlon event, where it placed 4th; and

(ii) the diplomas awarded to the members of the team in the above-noted event shall be withdrawn.

III. The International Biathlon Union is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

IV. The DOSB is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diplomas awarded to the Athlete, as well as the members of the 2x6km Women + 2×7.5km Men Mixed Relay team, in relation to the events mentioned above.

V. The International Ski Federation is requested to consider any further action within its own competence.

VI. The IOC administration is requested to reallocate the diplomas withdrawn from the athletes in accordance with the new ranking provided by the International Biathlon Union.

VII. This decision shall enter into force immediately.

Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, testing takes place under the IOC’s auspices from 30 January (the date of the opening of the Olympic Villages) to 23 February 2014 (the date of the Closing Ceremony). Within that period, the IOC systematically performs tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC systematically carries out tests on the top five finishers plus two at random. The IOC also performs out-of-competition unannounced tests. Over the course of the Sochi Games, the IOC is expected to carry out some 2,453 tests – 1,944 urine and 509 blood. —- IOC