SOCHI, Russia -- A top German biathlete and an Italian bobsledder were kicked out of the Sochi Olympics on Friday in the first doping cases of the Winter Games. Former two-time Olympic gold medallist Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine in both her "A" and "B" samples, the German Olympic Committee said. The committee said she has been removed from the team and was being sent home. Sachenbacher-Stehle -- winner of two golds and three silvers in cross-country skiing at previous games -- blamed the positive test on a nutritional supplement and said she had never knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs. "I am going through the worst nightmare that you can imagine, because I am unable to explain at all how there could be a positive test," she said in a statement. The Italian Olympic Committee, meanwhile, announced that bobsledder William Frullani was ejected from the games after testing positive for the banned stimulant dimetylpentylamine in the athletes village on Tuesday. Frullani, who had not competed yet, asked for a backup test that "confirmed the positive result, resulting in his exclusion from the Italian delegation," CONI said. The IOC declined to comment, citing confidentiality of ongoing anti-doping procedures. Sachenbacher-Stehle, who switched from cross-country to biathlon two years ago, competed in five events in Sochi but did not win any medals. Her best results were two fourth-place finishes, in the 12.5K mass start and the mixed relay. The 33-year-old German was tested after Mondays mass start race. Her backup sample was tested on Friday and confirmed the original finding. Her expulsion from the games was announced after she appeared before an IOC disciplinary commission on Friday afternoon. Sachenbacher-Stehle had been left off Germanys top-ranked womens relay team before Friday nights 4x6-kilometre relay. The team finished 11th. Franziska Hildebrand, who skied the third leg for Germany, said the team was told about the doping case earlier in the day. "We are totally shocked," Hildebrand said. Methylhexanamine is classified on the World Anti-Agencys prohibited list as a "specified stimulant," a group of substances that are more susceptible to inadvertent use and can carry reduced penalties. Sachenbacher-Stehle said she had her nutritional supplements checked in a lab or cleared by the manufacturer before the games. "At the moment I can only assure all involved that I never knowingly took banned substances," she said. Any further sanctions outside of the Olympics are up to the International Biathlon Union. The German could face a ban from the sport for a year or more. Michael Vesper, chief of German Olympic body DOSB, said athletes have been repeatedly warned about supplements that contain methylhexanamine. "The DOSB strives for a doping-free sport and a zero tolerance policy," he said in a statement. "We strive only for cleanly achieved performances. Every doping case is first of all a big disappointment. But it is also proof that that control system works." Stefan Schwarzbach, spokesman for the German biathlon and cross-country teams, said a contaminated supplement is a possible explanation for Sachenbacher-Stehles positive test. "We are not sure if its really from an unproven, or dirty, supplement," he said. " We really dont know." "It really seems that it is a mistake," Schwarzbach added. "And she has to handle the consequences." As a cross-country skier, Sachenbacher-Stehle won gold medals in the team sprint at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 4x5K relay at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She won silver medals in Salt Lake, Vancouver and at the 2006 Turin Games. The only previous German athlete sanctioned for doping at a Winter Olympics was hockey player Alois Schloder, who was disqualified from the 1972 Sapporo Games after a positive test for ephedrine. German-born cross-country skier Johan Muehlegg was competing for Spain in 2002 when he was caught doping and stripped of one of his three gold medals at the Salt Lake City Olympics. In the Italian case, CONI told The Associated Press that it believed Frullani, a former decathlete, purchased the stimulant on the Internet from the United States, since it is not available in Italy. Dimethylamphetamine is also classified as a "specified stimulant" on the WADA list. Samuele Romanini will replace Frullani as the brakeman for the four-man bobsled race, which begins Saturday. The IOC is conducting 2,453 drug tests in Sochi, a record for the Winter Games. 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Air Max Wholesale Uk . -- Houstons All-Star tandem of James Harden and Dwight Howard refused to let the Rockets give in to fatigue. Air Max Shop Uk . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St.NASHVILLE -- Shea Weber and a couple of first-timers helped the Predators snap a home skid. Weber scored twice and Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok each scored their first NHL goals to lead the Nashville Predators to a 6-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Colin Wilson and Eric Nystrom also scored for Nashville, winners of three of four. Rasmus Ristolainen scored for Buffalo, which has lost 10 of its last 11 games. The Predators got off to a fast start, scoring four goals in the first, and ended a six-game home losing streak. "Weve talked about that the few games that we have to play better at home," Weber said. "Weve always been a team in the past that takes pride in winning at home and we havent done that lately. We need to change that." Sissons scored the games first goal at 6:26 of the opening period. From the left circle, Rich Clune sent a backhand on net. Buffalos Matt Hackett turned it aside, but Sissons pounced on the rebound at the left of the net and slammed it home for his first career NHL goal. "I cant really describe it," Sissons said. "Im on top of the world right now. Ive been working pretty hard and fortunately got a bounce there to get my first." Wilson struck at 11:44 of the first when he picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat Hackett for his eighth of the season. Just 9 seconds later, Jarnkrok beat Hackett with a snap shot from the slot to record his first career NHL goal. "Jarnkrok was goood," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.dddddddddddd "Thats a goal-scorers goal. Hes very detailed. I love the way he plays. He plays on the right side of the puck every time." Weber completed Nashvilles first period barrage with a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle while the Predators had a 5-on-3 advantage. "Guys came out, and they didnt come out to play that first period," Buffalo coach Ted Nolan said. "In order to rebuild and retool, you rebuild and retool with the right people." Hackett was removed following the first period and replaced by Nathan Lieuwen. Ristolainen got Buffalo on the board at 2:06 of the second when he beat Carter Hutton with a slap shot from above the right circle. It was the rookies second career goal. "It was a goal, but a horrible hockey game," Ristolainen said. He was recalled earlier Thursday from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis due to an injury to Tyler Myers. Weber struck again at 6:19 of the first with another slap shot from the top of the right circle. It was the captains 20th goal of the season, the second time in his career that he has reached that mark. NOTES: Wilsons goal was his first since Dec. 30, a stretch of 33 games . Twelve Predators recorded a point in the first period . Buffalo C Brian Flynn assisted on Ristolainens goal. He has assists in two of his last three games . The Sabres are 1-12-0 against Central Division teams this season. ' ' '