Russian biathletes facing extra scrutiny

Russian biathletes will have to undergo extra drug testing if their federation is to have a doping suspension lifted, the International Biathlon Union said Thursday. The Russian Biathlon Union — one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses — was relegated to provisional membership in 2017. Russian doping scandals tie into a corruption probe into the IBU by Austrian and Norwegian authorities. The IBU’s president stepped aside last year after his offices were raided by police. Russian doping cases were allegedly covered up and bribes allegedly paid to delegates to vote for Russia to host a world championship. The IBU said in August it was investigating four Russian biathletes suspected of past doping offences. They reportedly include former national team athletes. Three other Russian women were stripped of medals they won at the 2014 Olympics for doping. They have filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.