LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 25 (UPI) -- Six Austrian biathletes and cross-country skiers have been ruled "permanently ineligible" from the Olympic Games because of anti-doping rules violations.
The athletes were allegedly found to be in possession of equipment used for blood doping. An investigation by police in Turin, Italy, reportedly turned up syringes and bags for storing blood.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee said an investigation concluded that the "cases go further than straightforward possession of prohibited substances and methods and are clear instances where a network, including athletes, colluded to manipulate blood and to engage into doping practices."
The IOC banned cross-country skiers Roland Diethart, Johannes Eder, Juergen Pinter and Martin Tauber and biathletes Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann. They are barred from "taking part in future Olympic Games in any accredited capacity," the IOC said.
The athletes' results from the 2006 Winter Games in Turin were expunged. None of the affected athletes placed higher than eighth in any event.
