Anton Shipulin celebrates his World Cup victory ©IBU

Anton Shipulin gained his first victory of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup season in Kontiolahti today.

The Russian, who was among those barred from competing at last month's Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, triumphed over the 10 kilometres sprint distance in 23min 51.60sec.

It marked the first World Cup win for any Russian this season.

He survived both shooting sections without missing a single shot and eventually triumphed by 5.8 seconds over Latvia's Andrejs Rastorgujevs.

France's Quentin Fillon Maillet finished third, 17.3 seconds behind the leader.

France's World Cup leader Martin Fourcade did not start due to suffering from gastroenteritis.

Norway's Thingnes Boe failed to capitalise on his rival's absence as he could only finish fourth.

Germany's Olympic sprint champion Arnd Peiffer was fifth.

Fourcade is expected to return to competition over the weekend in the Finnish resort.

Norway's 44-year-old Ole Einar Bjørndalen also returned to action today by finishing a solid 12th after he was omitted from his country's Winter Olympic team.

Action is due to continue with a women's sprint tomorrow.

Shipulin's win came as controversy continues over the IBU decision to keep their World Cup final in the Russian resort of Tyumen despite the doping scandal which is continuing to divide the sport.