Ekaterina Valeryevna Iourieva is a Russian

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 biathlete and 2008 world champion in the 15 km individual. She was known for her outstanding shooting speed. On February 13th, 2009 IBU announced Iourieva, as well as two other Russian team members Olympic champion Albina Akhatova

Albina Akhatova

Albina Khamitovna Akhatova is a Russian biathlete.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, she won bronze medals in the 10 km pursuit and 15 km individual; she originally finished fourth in the individual but was promoted when her teammate Olga Pyleva was disqualified after failing a doping...

 and world champion Dmitry Yaroshenko

Dmitry Yaroshenko

Dmitry Vladimirovich Yaroshenko is a Russian biathlete who has won once in Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen sprint in 2007...

, tested positive for EPO

Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...

during the World Cup in Östersund. Iourieva has been banned for two years.

2004/2005

Made her World Cup debut in January 2005 in 15 km individual race at Antholtz-Anterselva finishing 43rd. In the other four races of the season scored points only once in the 7.5 km pursuit at Pokljuka.

2006/2007

Breakthrough season highlighted by excellent results in its second half. Starting with the World Championships finished in top-8 in 8 out of 11 races including first three podiums at Lahti and Oslo-Holmenkollen. Ranked 13th in the World Cup Total.

2007/2008

Confirmed her status of a top biathlete by winning her first World Cup race as well as collecting full set of medals at the World Championships. After back-to-back 2nd place finishes at Hochfilzen won 15 km individual race at Pokljuka. During the World Championships at Östersund shot flawlessly in both 15 km individual race claiming gold medal and 10 km pursuit earning silver medal, missed only two targets in 12.5 km mass start winning her third, bronze, medal of the Championships. Nearly brought Russian team onto the podium in relay competition. Skipped two World Cup stages due to illness and fatigue. Finished 6th in the World Cup Total.

2008/2009

Successful and consistent start to the season. Missed flower ceremony in only 3 out of 14 races. Won career first 7.5 km sprint at Oberhof and 12.5 km mass start at Antholz. Four more podium finishes : twice in a 10 km pursuit, once in each of 7.5 km sprint and 15 km individual races. Took part in all three relay races Russian team won this season. Going into 2009 World Championships Iourieva was the World Cup leader. However she was stripped of all results of the season following revelation of the positive doping test taken in December at Östersund.

2010/2011

All through the period of her disqualification, Iourieva along with her banned teammates had been filing multiple complaints and appeals concerning the doping case but she always failed to get it reconsidered. Iourieva's disqualification term expired on December 4, 2010 and she has revealed her plans to return to the sport and to start her career in biathlon anew. She will make her first official post-disqualification appearance at the second stage of IBU Continental Cup in Martell, Italy, which is to take place on December 11.

Career race record

Winner - 2.

2nd place - 4.

3rd place - 3.

4th-8th places - 11.

Total races - 50.