Russia's biathlon coach on Friday confirmed that three skiers tested positive for doping, saying the offenders left the biathlon world championships event in South Korea, dpa reported.
Chief coach Vladimir Alikin said a team meeting took place at 2 am (1700 GMT) and confirmed that World Cup leader and world champion Eketarina Iourieva, three-time world champion Albina Akhatova and two-time relay world champion Dmitri Yaroshenko tested positive for the banned blood-doping substance EPO.
The three athletes have already left the country for Moscow, where a commission is to discuss sanctions against them, Alikin said.
The International Biathlon Union is to announce details of the case at a press conference later on Friday.