Jonne Kähkönen, the Finnish coach of the Italian women's biathlon team, expressed his shock regarding doping allegations against athlete Rebecca Passler in an interview with Yle. He stated that the news came as a complete surprise to him and the entire team, significantly affecting their preparations just before the Olympic games. Kähkönen emphasized the difficulty of the situation, describing it as a challenging week for the team, and acknowledged the emotional toll it has taken on everyone involved.

In light of the situation, Kähkönen explained that the team aimed to address the matter internally and swiftly, prioritizing a return to focus on competition preparations. He mentioned that the greatest task ahead is controlling emotions and ensuring that the team can concentrate on their performance. The timing of the doping revelation, occurring just before the competition, adds further pressure as the team seeks to maintain its morale and effectiveness.

Rebecca Passler, the athlete in question, has reportedly tested positive for letrozole, a substance that lowers estrogen levels and has been banned since 2008. This incident raises serious questions about doping practices within the team and may lead to broader discussions regarding integrity in sports as the Olympic games approach.