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Russia's Shipulin Taken Off Individual Biathlon Race After Disappointing Sprint

Russia's Anton Shipulin, who was one shot away from winning biathlon gold in the sprint event, will not take part in Thursday's individual race, the country's biathlon union announced Wednesday.

Alexei Volkov and Alexander Loginov will be making their Olympic debuts in the 20-kilometer race instead.

Shipulin missed the last shot in Saturday's sprint at the Laura biathlon complex and finished fourth, just six seconds behind winner Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and less than one second behind bronze medalist Jaroslav Soukup.

On Monday, Shipulin — part of Russia's bronze-winning relay team in Vancouver — finished down in 14th place in the biathlon pursuit.

The remaining two spots in the individual event will be filled by Vancouver mass start champion Evgeny Ustyugov and Evgeny Garanichev, who rose 12 positions in the pursuit to finish 15th.

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