Martin Fourcade recovers a sixth Olympic title after the suspension of Russian Evgeny Ustyugov for doping

The French biathlete won the gold medal in the mass start of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and once again became the most successful French athlete in the history of the Games.

Retired for four years, but again an Olympic medalist. Second in the mass start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, behind Evgeny Ustyugov, Martin Fourcade won gold. Due to anomalies on his biological passport, the Russian was found guilty of doping and downgraded from all his results between 2010 and 2014 after the rejection of his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday November 26. The French Olympic Team and the Minister of Sports Gil Avérous therefore confirmed on X (ex-Twitter) that Martin Fourcade was awarded the title, his sixth Olympic coronation. He once again becomes the French athlete with the most medals at the Olympic Games, ahead of Teddy Riner who equaled him in Paris (5).

“The CAS Appeals Chamber upheld the findings of the CAS Anti-Doping Chamber, which established that Mr Ustyugov had committed a violation of anti-doping regulations on the basis of anomalies identified in the athlete's biological passport”writes the IBU (International Biathlon Federation). But, as a last resort, the former Russian biathlete “can appeal this decision to the Swiss federal court”exclusively on “limited procedural grounds”specifies the international federation.

Very committed to the fight against doping, particularly that of Russian athletes, Martin Fourcade sees his fight rewarded. Chronologically, this re-awarded medal becomes his first gold, since he was on the Olympic podium for the first time, behind Evgeny Ustyugov, during this mass start in Vancouver, on the occasion of his first Olympics, at 21 years old. “I am Olympic vice-champion in Vancouver. It is part of my journey and my story. I would not trade the color of my medal and the emotions experienced that day for anything in the world. I hope Ustyugov loses its title if this story is true I would not, on the other hand, be happier with gold.he affirmed to Monde in 2018.

Martin Fourcade, 36, who became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2022, is currently seeking the presidency of the future organizing committee for the 2030 Olympic Games allocated to the French Alps.