Dope ban skier gold

THE first medal of the Winter Olympics went to a Norwegian skier who has served a doping ban.

Therese Johaug defied freezing temperatures to win the women’s 15km cross-country skiathlon by half a minute.

Johaug, 33, was suspended for 18 months in 2016 after testing positive for performanceenhancing drug Clostebol.

The second medal event brought bronze, behind Norway and France, for a Russian biathlon relay team featuring Alexander Loginov, banned for two years in 2014 for EPO use.