Three Russian biathletes have failed drugs tests, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) confirmed in a statement ahead of the World Championships in Pyeongchang on Friday.

The statement added the IBU would initiate disciplinary measures against Dmitri Yaroshenko, Ekaterina Lourieva and Albina Akhatova after receiving complete documentary evidence from the WADA-accredited laboratory handling their samples in Lausanne.

The trio tested positive for prohibited substances during a World Cup event in Ostersund, Sweden last December, the sport's governing body said without specifying the type of drug used.

The IBU said it had been informed by the Swiss laboratory on Thursday that the B sample results of all three athletes confirmed the A sample analysis.

Last year, Russian biathlete Tatyana Moiseyeva failed a drugs test at the world championships in Sweden but charges against her were dropped after the IBU accepted explanations from the former world junior champion and her doctor.

In another case, 2002 Olympic [Images] champion Olga Pyleva was stripped of her silver medal and banned for two years after testing positive for the stimulant carphedon at the Turin Games three years ago.