Russia's cross-country skier Alena Sidko has been banned two years for doping, the country's skiing federation (FLGR) said on Wednesday.

Sidko was tested positive for the blood-booster EPO at a home ski race last month, therefore the 30-year-old had already been kicked out of the Russian Olympic team.

"She waived the right to test the B sample, so we had no choice but to ban her for two years," said FLGR president Vladimir Loginov in reference to Sidko.

Sidko had been considered a contender for medals in the sprint events next month in Vancouver after winning several World Cup races and finishing third at the 2006 Turin Olympics and at the world championships the previous year.

Last month, three other leading Russian skiers had been banned for positive test of EPO including triple Olympic champion Julija Tchepalova, 2006 Olympic gold medallist in the men's 30-km pursuit Yevgeny Dementiev and national champion Nina Rysina.

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