Biathlon governing body looks for missing drug test documents

CESANA, Italy -- Biathlon's governing body is looking into the disappearance of documents that purportedly detail an athlete's test that indicated the presence of a stimulant taken last month.

It's not known if the papers were stolen or simply misplaced. IBU president Anders Besseberg would not confirm reports that they were taken during a vehicle break-in.

"These are just rumors right now. We are missing some results and we are doing some research," Besseberg said Monday. "As soon as we have clarified this case, then we will give out a statement."

Besseberg said the IBU launched the inquiry because Russian star biathlete Olga Pyleva questioned why she hadn't tested positive for carphedon in January. The banned stimulant was found in her system last week, and she was expelled from the Turin Games.

Pyleva wouldn't have been punished for the presence of carphedon in her system last month because like all stimulants it is prohibited only in competition and therefore isn't technically a "positive" test, Besseberg said.

World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound called it a moot point.

"Whatever may have happened, she took the stimulant and tested positive in competition," Pound said. "If you find a stimulant and it's not in competition, say you're taking Sudafed for a cold, it doesn't matter. There might not even be notification.

"The fact of the matter is she took something she knew was on the list and she tested positive and I don't have too much sympathy for that."