The tragic death of a biathlonist. He utilized a peculiar mask

The Norwegian Olympic Committee called on athletes preparing for the winter games in Italy to quit the usage of oxygen masks simulating advanced mountain conditions until further notice. It's a reaction to the abrupt death of 27-year-old biathlonist Sivert Guttor Bakken.

The player was found dead on December 23 at a hotel in Lavaze, northern Italy, where he trained before the games. At the minute of his discovery, he had a mask on his face to limit his oxygen supply. Italian police are investigating and the origin of death is not yet known – the autopsy is due after Christmas.

Initially, the Norwegian biathlon federation emphasized that it did not tie Bakken's equipment to his death and had no cognition of the circumstances of utilizing the mask. After the tragedy, however, the Olympic Committee decided on a preventive advice that athletes refrain from specified training methods until a full explanation of the substance was given.