TURIN, Italy – Russian biathlete Olga Pyleva yesterday became the first athlete caught doping at these Olympic Games.

Pyleva was thrown out of the Olympics and stripped of her silver medal in the 15km. She was scratched before yesterday’s 7.5km spring, in which she was considered a favorite.

Pyleva tested positive for the stimulant carphedon in a urine test after Monday’s 15km. A three-member IOC panel found her guilty of doping.

Nikolai Durmanov, head of the Russian Anti-Doping Committee, blamed a doctor who treated her for an ankle injury in January. He said the doctor gave her an over-the-counter medication that contained carphedon.