OREANDA-NEWS Austrian police have charged a number of Russian biathletes and coaches with anti-doping rule violations at the 2017 World Championships, including Olympic champion Anton Shipulin, Evgeny Garanichev and Alexander Loginov. This was reported by TV commentator Dmitry Guberniev on the TV channel "Match TV".

Also on the list are Olympic champion in the relay Alexey Volkov, biathlete Irina Starykh, former head coach of the national team Alexander Kasperovich, doctors and masseurs team Artem Kryntsiliv, Alexander Belavkin, Evgeny Shutov, Dmitry Topychkanov. In Austria, an anti-doping rule violation is a criminal offence.

"A few hours ago, the location of the Russian biathlon team was raided by the Austrian police, before a list of athletes, coaches, doctors and massage therapists who are charged with anti - doping rule violations during the World Cup in Hochfilzen in 2017," wrote Guberniev in Instagram, attaching a photo of the list of suspects.

Later Guberniev on air of Match TV channel reported that on Thursday the specified athletes and the staff of the national team will have to give explanations to police. At the world Championships in 2017 Volkov, Maxim Tsvetkov, Anton Babikov and Shipulin won the gold medal in the relay 4 x 7,5 km Shipulin in the team Olga Podchufarova, Tatiana Akimova and Loginov won the bronze medal in the mixed relay.

A source familiar with the course of the case and currently in Hochfilzen, TASS confirmed the information about the visit of the police to the location of the team. Thus the interlocutor of Agency noted that any accused isn't detained, in Hochfilzen, according to a source, now there are Garanichev, logins, Old and Topychkanov.

From 13 to 16 December Hochfilzen will host the second stage of the World Cup in biathlon, Garanichev, Loginov and Starykh joined the Russian team for the competition. Loginov at the previous stage of the world Cup in Slovenian Pokljuka won two bronze medals-in the sprint and pursuit, he ranks fourth in the overall standings of the World Cup.