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Russian woman loses medal for drug use

TURIN, Italy, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Russian Olga Pyleva, who finished second in 15-kilometer biathlon Monday, lost her Olympic silver medal Friday after testing positive for a banned substance.

Olympic officials announced Pyleva had tested positive for Carphendon, which was in a pain medicine she said had been prescribed for her after she suffered a foot injury.

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Martina Glagow of Germany will be moved up from third to second and receive the silver medal. The original fourth-place finisher, Russian Albina Akhatova, will now be awarded the bronze.

In its statement, the International Olympic Committee said it received notice that Pyleva was taking the medicine, but that there was no indication that medicine contained Carphendon -- a substance that reputedly boosts stamina.

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