February 23, 2014 (Sochi, Russia) – German biathlete, Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, was kicked out of the Sochi Games on Feb. 21 by the IOC after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine following tests after the women’s biathlon mass start race on Feb. 17, becoming the first doping case of the 2014 Olympics. The IOC said in a statement that she was disqualified from the mass start and her entire team had its fourth-place finish in the mixed relay canceled – read sanction notice here.

Germany's Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle (#7) in the Mixed Relay. © Nancie Battaglia

The Italian Olympic Committee also announced that bobsledder William Frullani was ejected from the Games on Feb. 21 after testing positive for the banned stimulant dimetylpentylamine. Frullani, a former decathlete, is believed to have purchased the dimethylamphetamine on the Internet from the United States.

Sachenbacher-Stehle, 33, won gold medals in the team sprint at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 4x5K relay at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She won silver medals in Salt Lake, Vancouver and at the 2006 Turin Games. The German star switched to biathlon from cross-country skiing in the 2012-13 season and did not win any medals at Sochi.

Sachenbacher-Stehle was sidelined at the 2006 Torino Games for a high Hemoglobin level © Nancie Battaglia

Sachenbacher received a five-day suspension at the beginning of the 2006 Winter Olympics due to a high Hemoglobin level. She was one of twelve athletes given five-day suspensions for health reasons.

Sachenbacher-Stehle called this experience “a nightmare” and denies ever knowingly taking banned substances and suggests a nutritional supplement caused her positive test.

The IOC is conducting a record number of 2,453 drug tests in Sochi.