Let the Real Games Begin

What do Kikkan Randall & Leif Zimmerman of the United States, Sean Crooks of Canada, Sergey Dolidovich of Belarus, Jean Marc Gaillard of France, Aleksandr Lasutkin of Belarus, Natalia Matveeva of Russia, and Evi Sachenbacher of Germany all have in common? Why they’re the first wave of alleged cheats at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. All eight cross-country skiers were found to have excessive hemoglobin levels, and as a result were all suspended for five days by the International Ski Federation.

The suspension means that they will be held from competing in the first cross country event, the men’s and women’s pursuit on Sunday. The IOC plans on stepping up drug testing during the games in the hope of deterring any cheating. Yeah, good luck with that.

Sachenbacher won gold in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in the women's relay, and silver in the women's sprint. She is currently seventh in World Cup rankings.