Athletics: Varis banned for life

Finnish biathlete Kaisa Varis has been banned for life by the International Biathlon Union for using the blood booster EPO. The ban is effective from January 6, and all of Varis' results since then - including her World Cup win in Germany on January 11 - will be nullified.

Varis tested positive for EPO after an event in Germany on January 6 and the "B" sample confirmed the finding. As a cross-country skier, she was banned for two years in 2003 after another positive test.