Winter Olympics: More woe for disgraced athlete

A second analysis of disgraced Spanish gold medallist Johann Muehlegg’s failed drugs test has also proved positive.

The 31-year-old cross country skier was stripped of his 50km gold after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug darbepoetin (NESP) last week.

The Spanish delegation have argued that NESP was not included on the list of illegal substances, but the failed test has cast a shadow over Spain’s Winter Games.

The two gold medals Muehlegg is keeping - he tested negative after the 10km and 30km freestyle events - are the country’s first skiing gold medals since 1972.

‘‘The result was not a surprise,’’ said Spain’s Secretary of Sport, Juan Antonio Gomez Angulo.

‘‘In reality, it has not been a counter-analysis but the same analysis that was done on the 21st, as it has been done in the same laboratory, by the same doctor and by the same system.’’

The German-born star has yet to announce if he will appeal to the IOC’s Arbitrary Tribunal of Sport, but he is facing a two-year suspension by the IOC.