2002 Winter Olympic Games Cross-country skiing

The cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics were marred by drug problems. The winners of three races were disqualified after blood tests showed that three skiers had overly high red blood cell counts indicating the use of darbepoetin, a drug used to treat anemia. At the time, the drug was not specifically listed in the IOC's list of banned substances, but the Olympic rules generally prohibit doping of any kind, in accordance to its charter. After two years and several lawsuits in Olympic and Swiss courts, the skiers in question (Johann Mühlegg of Spain, and Larissa Lazutina and Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) and Frode Estil (NOR)

1. (no silver medal awarded, due to gold medal tie)
2. Andrus Veerpalu (EST)
3. Frode Estil (NOR)
4. Mikhail Ivanov (RUS)
5. Andrus Veerpalu (EST)
6. Christian Hoffmann (AUT)
7. Mikhail Botvinov (AUT)
8. Tor Arne Hetland (NOR)
9. Peter Schlickenrieder (GER)
10. Norway
11. Italy
12. Germany

In the third-in-a-row close Italy-Norway finish, the Norwegians beat Italy, like in 1998.

5 km Freestyle Pursuit Women:

1. Beckie Scott (CAN)
2. Katerina Neumannová (CZE)
3. Bente Skari (NOR)
4. Julija Tchepalova (RUS)
5. Gabriella Paruzzi (ITA)
6. Stefania Belmondo (ITA)
7. Stefania Belmondo (ITA)
8. Katerina Neumannová (CZE)
9. Julija Tchepalova (RUS)
10. Evi Sachenbacher (GER)
11. Germany
12. Norway
13. Switzerland

The Russian team was disqualified and wasn't allowed to start, after Lazutina's blood tests indicated the use of darbepoetin.