Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics

2002 Winter Olympic Games Cross-country skiing

The winners of three races were disqualified after blood tests showed that three skiers had high red blood cell counts that indicated the use of darbepoetin, a drug used to treat anemia. The drug is not specifically listed in the IOC's list of banned substances, but the rules prohibit doping of any kind. The skiers Johann Mühlegg of Spain and Larisa Lazutina of Russia were permitted to keep medals they had won in previous races for which their blood tests were negative.

Note: this article will have to be further rewritten due to the CAS ruling of 18 December 2003; see that date's Current events for the relevant external link. The final rankings will most probably be determined by the IOC Executive Committee at their next meeting in February 2004.

10 km Freestyle Pursuit Men:

1. Johann Mühlegg (ESP)
2. Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) and Frode Estil (NOR)

Mühlegg won his second gold of the Games, dominating both parts of the pursuit race. Alsgaard and Estil tied for the silver medal.

15 km Classical Men:

1. Andrus Veerpalu (EST)
2. Frode Estil (NOR)
3. Jaak Mae (EST)

First Olympic medals at the Winter Games for Estonia.

50 km Classical Men:

Medals awarded Saturday, February 23

Mikhail Ivanov (RUS)

Andrus Veerpalu (EST)

Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (NOR)

First-place finisher Johann Mühlegg was disqualified after blood tests indicated the use of darbepoetin.

30 km Freestyle Mass Start Men:

1. Johann Mühlegg (ESP)
2. Christian Hoffmann (AUT)
3. Mikhail Botvinov (AUT)

Former German Mühlegg wins Spain's second Olympic winter gold.

Sprint Men:

1. Tor Arne Hetland (NOR)
2. Peter Schlickenrieder (GER)
3. Cristian Zorzi (ITA)

4 x 10 km Men:

1. Norway
2. Italy
3. Germany

In the third close Italy-Norway finish, the Norwegians beat Italy, like in 1998.

5 km Freestyle Pursuit Women:

1. Olga Danilova (RUS)
2. Larisa Lazutina (RUS)
3. Beckie Scott (CAN)

Danilov surprisingly beats Lazutina as Scott wins a close finish for bronze and Canada's first Nordic skiing medal.

10 km Classical Women:

1. Bente Skari (NOR)
2. Olga Danilova (RUS)
3. Yulia Chepalova (RUS)

Bente Skari comes from behind to beat the favourite Russians in the last kilometers.

30 km Classical Women:

Medals awarded Sunday, February 24

Gabriella Paruzzi (ITA)

Stefania Belmondo (ITA)

Bente Skari (NOR)

Russian skiers Larissa Lazutina, who finished first, and Olga Danilova, who finished eighth, were disqualified after blood tests indicated the use of darbepoetin.

15 km Freestyle Mass Start Women:

1. Stefania Belmondo (ITA)
2. Larisa Lazutina (RUS)
3. Katerina Neumannová (CZE)

After breaking her skiing pole, the small Italian skis to gold.

Sprint Women:

1. Yulia Chepalova (RUS)
2. Evi Sachenbacher (GER)
3. Anita Moen (NOR)

4x5 km Women:

Medals awarded Thursday, February 21

Germany

Norway

Switzerland

The Russian team was disqualified after Larissa Lazutina's blood tests indicated the use of darbepoetin.