The statement revealed "four adverse analytical findings were obtained in samples of three IBU athletes from Russia and Lithuania," and "the outcome of the test showed the presence of a non-specific substance."

It added: "According to the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Code, the IBU therefore provisionally suspended the respective athletes from any IBU competitions until the decision of the Anti-Doping Hearing Panel is reached.

"The respective athletes were all suspended provisionally, pending the IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel's decision."

The statement also revealed, "due to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) was informed accordingly."

Although there has been no confirmation it has been reported that the two Russian athletes are and Starykh and Ekaterina Iourieva, while it is thought that the Lithuanian implicated was also due to compete at Sochi. 

A former top teenager who won junior world titles in 2007 and 2008, Starykh spent several years struggling before enjoying a superb winter season in which she won the European sprint title last month and secured an unlikely Olympic qualification. 

Iourieva has not been selected in the Olympic team, but is another strong performer who won a world title in 2008 and has enjoyed success on the World Cup circuit this season. 

She was also banned for two years in 2009 after being one of three high profile Russian biathletes to test positive for erythropoietin (EPO). 

Ekaterina Iourieva was involved in the last major scandal involving Russian biathlon and is reported to have failed a test again ©Bongarts/Getty Images