Cross-country skier, Nordic combined skier suspended for 5 days for high hemoglobin values

Cross-country, Nordic skiers suspended for 5 days

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — An Estonian cross-country skier and a Russian Nordic combined competitor have been barred from competing for five days at the Vancouver Olympics after pre-games tests detected too-high hemoglobin levels.

The International Ski Federation said in a statement Sunday that Niyaz Nabeev of Russia and Kaspar Kokk of Estonia were prevented from competition from last Friday through Tuesday.

FIS tested 304 athletes across four days leading into competition.

The start prohibitions are designed to protect the health of the athletes, the federation said, and are not considered sanctions.

The 20-year-old Nabeev, in his first Olympics, and Kokk, who placed eighth in the 4×10K relay at the 2006 Turin Olympics, can return to competition beginning Wednesday, subject to further blood tests.

Nabeev was ineligible for the opening event of the Nordic combined program on Sunday. Kokk is ineligible for the opening event on the cross country schedule on Monday.

High hemoglobin levels, which can occur naturally or be caused by factors such as dehydration, also are indicators of doping.