The performance-enhancing altitude mask that Olympic hopeful Sivert Guttorm Bakken was wearing when he was found dead this week “is not part of the organized training programs of the Norwegian Biathlon Association,” the federation said Friday.
Bakken, 27, was found dead in his hotel room in the Alpine town of Lavaze in Italy’s Trentino region on Tuesday.
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It was located at a high altitude, with Lavaze Pass measuring 1,808 meters (almost 6,000 feet) in elevation.
The fact that Bakken was wearing a device aimed at simulating high-altitude conditions, which could potentially improve endurance, raised concerns — especially since Bakken was diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition, in 2022 and sat out two seasons.
“The use of such equipment is not part of the organized training programs of the Norwegian Biathlon Association. However, we are aware that a few individual athletes have acquired such equipment. Any use must be in accordance with the guidelines of the Olympic Council. Such use is not in conflict with Norwegian sports regulations,” the federation said in a statement, adding that it banned the use of such Baktil masks immediately after Baktil’s death.
Bakken was the reigning European champion in the 10km sprint and two relays and was preparing to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. He had an individual World Cup win and three in the relays.
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He competed as recently as last Sunday in Annecy, France, where he finished 20th in a 15km mass start event. A day earlier, he finished 18th in a 12.5 kilometer pursuit.
“At the moment there are many rumors and unconfirmed information related to the death of Bakken. It is only when we have received a report from the police and the forensic authorities in Italy that we will be able to comment on what probably happened and the probable cause of death. This will probably not happen until next week,” said Bernt Heiberg, a lawyer employed by the federation.
“We emphasize that although it was reported that the deceased was wearing an altitude mask when he was found, there is currently no confirmed information on what role this may have played in the death,” added Heiberg, “We would like to again urge caution in discussing details related to the death that have not yet been confirmed by the Italian police at this time.”
The autopsy on Bakken had to be done in Italy before his body could be brought home for the funeral.
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Norway is the dominant force in biathlon. Its athletes won six golds and 14 medals in the sport at the last Winter Olympics in Beijing almost four years ago — twice as many as second-ranked France in both categories.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics