50 kilometres (Classical), Men

In 2001 Johann Mühlegg of Spain won the 50 km World Championship in Lahti, Finland. Mühlegg was a German émigré who obtained Spanish citizenship in 1999, and who had competed for Germany at the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics. However, in a random blood test shortly before Salt Lake City, Mühlegg was found to have an elevated hematocrit level, indicating possible drug use. Only a few minutes later, however, a repeat test showed an acceptable hematocrit level, and Mühlegg was allowed to continue competing. By the time this race started, he had apparently won two gold medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, in the pursuit and 30 km. In the 50 km race the early leader was Russian Mikhail Ivanov who had been bronze medalist at the 2001 Worlds in the 30 km. He was still leading at the final 40.5 km checkpoint, but on the last lap would be passed by Mühlegg, who finished very quickly. Rounding out the podium appeared to be Estonia’s Andrus Veerpalu, who had won the 15 km gold 11 days before, and was well ahead of Norwegian Odd Bjørn Hjelmeset.

But that podium did not last long. Mühlegg failed his post-race doping screen, testing positive for darbopoietin, an erythropoietin analogue. He was disqualified from the race, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in December 2003 that he should be stripped of all three gold medals from the 2002 Winter Olympics. Thus, Ivanov was moved up to the gold medal, Veerpalu to silver, and Hjelmeset won the bronze. A few days later after the 2002 Winter Olympics ended, housecleaners working on the house used by the Austrian cross-country team found blood transfusion equipment. After an investigation, two of the Austrian skiers, Marc Mayer and Achim Walcher, were disqualified from the 2002 Winter Olympics for probable blood doping, This also affected the standings in this race, as Mayer had originally placed 25th.