MOSCOW, June 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian cross-country skiers Larisa
Lazutina and Olga Danilova, who failed dope tests at this year's
Winter Olympics, were handed two-year bans by the International
Ski Federation (FIS) on Monday, a spokesman of the Russian Cross-
country Skiing Federation (RFLG) confirmed.
   "Yes, it has been confirmed that both received a two-year
suspension," Andrei Kondrashov was quoted by British news agency
Reuters as saying.
   Spain's German-born cross-country skier Johann Muehlegg, who
tested positive for the blood-boosting drug darbepoetin, has also
been banned for two years at the FIS annual congress in Slovenia,
German news agency SID reported. 
   Lazutina, 36, was stripped of the gold medal in the 30-km race
at the Salt Lake City Olympics in February after testing positive
for darbepoetin.
   Danilova, 31, also tested positive for darbepoetin, which
stimulates the production of red blood cells.
   However, Danilova was allowed to keep the Olympic gold in the
pursuit and silver in the 10-km classical race she had won in
earlier races in Salt Lake City.
   Lazutina, who would have equalled Winter Games records for most
golds and total medals by a woman with her sixth gold and 10th
overall medal, was also allowed to keep the two silvers she had
won earlier.
   Both skiers denied using the drugs and have filed appeals with
the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).  Their
cases are due to be heard next month.
   Muehlegg had his medal for the 50-km classical race taken away,
but the IOC let him keep two other gold medals, saying sanctions
could not be retroactive.
   Muehlegg, 31, has also appealed against the IOC ruling to the
CAS. 
   "I think the FIS should have waited for the decision of the
Court of Arbitration for Sport before making a decision," Muehlegg
was quoted as saying by the Spanish website Marca.com on Monday.
   "If I had wanted to retire I would not have put this in the
hands of my lawyers.  So far no one has contacted me and I know
nothing more, but I am disappointed by the FIS decision."
   Kondrashov said that a third Russian cross-country skier,
Natalia Baranova-Masalkina, was also given a two-year ban.  Tested
positive for a blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-
of-competition test, she was kicked out of the Winter Olympics
before the Games began.
   Baranova-Masalkina, however, was allowed to compete in the
Russian national championships by the RFLG two months later,
therefore FIS extended her ban through April 2004.
   British Alpine skier Alain Baxter, who was stripped of the
bronze medal he won in the slalom, was banned by the FIS for just
three months after testing positive for methamphetamine, according
to the British Ski and Snowboard Federation.
   The FIS conceded that the substance found in his sample had
been taken unintentionally. Enditem