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SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — The International Biathlon Union says Sergei Sednev of Ukraine, who retired in December, has been banned for two years for doping.
Sednev was caught when a sample he gave in January 2013 was retested and found to contain the banned substance EPO, which increases the blood's oxygen capacity and boosts stamina.
Sednev, who won a bronze medal in the men's relay at the 2011 world championships, announced his retirement in December at the age of 31, shortly before his failed test came to light. The ban is dated from Dec. 15.
While Sednev will keep his world championship medal, the ban means he will lose his results from last year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, when he was 44th in the 10-kilometer sprint and 54th in the 12.5K pursuit.
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