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Lazutina tests clean, starts final cross-country race

MIDWAY, Utah (AP) -- Russian cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, barred from competing in the women's relay earlier this week because of abnormally high blood level, tested clean on Sunday and started the 30K classic-style race.

Lazutina, 36, was attempting to tie the Olympic record of 10 medals won by a woman. Cross-country skier Raisa Smetanina won 10 medals competing for the Soviet Union and the Russian Unified team from 1976 to 1992.

The Russians were forced to withdraw their 20-kilometer relay team on Thursday after Lazutina showed high levels of hemoglobin, a blood molecule that helps carry oxygen to muscles. Athletes are tested at random before races, and any athlete whose level is above the limit -- 17.5 for men, 16.0 for women -- is not allowed to compete as a safety precaution.

Russian officials claimed drug-testers were targeting their athletes, and the dispute led to widespread complaints of biased judging in other sports.

Lazutina again underwent a blood test Sunday morning, and this time the results were negative.

 

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