MOSCOW (AP) — Former world champion biathlete Ekaterina Iourieva of Russia has been banned for eight years for a repeat doping offence, the International Biathlon Union says.

Iourieva, 31, tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in an out-of-competition test in December.

She announced her retirement in February, one month after her positive test was reported. Iourieva previously served a two-year ban for EPO use in 2009.

At the 2008 worlds, Iourieva won the 15-kilometer individual race, as well as silver in the 10km pursuit and bronze in the 12.5km mass start.

On Tuesday, Iourieva’s teammate Irina Starykh was banned for two years after testing positive for EPO on the same day as Iourieva.

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