August 26, 2009 (Moscow, Russia) – Top Russian skier Julia Tchepalova, a 3-time Olympic champ, has been named along with two other top Russians, Evgeny Dementiev and Nina Rysina, following positive doping tests according to Russia Today and Reuters. The three are alleged to have taken recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) – a performance-enhancing drug, classified as an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent.

“Tchepalova and Dementiev have written to me, saying they plan to retire,” the president of the Russian cross-country skiing federation, Vladimir Loginov is quoted in the Reuters report. “But still, if found guilty they will be suspended.”

For Russia Today story click here.
For Reuters story click here.