Hamburg - Two biathletes tested positive for doping substances at a World Cup meet in December, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) said on Tuesday.

The IBU did not release the names of the athletes because they have the opportunity to call for the examination of the b-sample. The doping tests were carried out at the World Cup season opener in Ostersund, Sweden.

Depending on the offence, the athletes can face a ban of up to two years.

Russian news agency Allsport reported that the two athletes were Russians who had committed blood doping. dpa