On a day totally dominated by the surprise raids carried out by the Austrian authorities, Norway's Sundby, who has previously served a doping suspension after failing for endurance booster salbutamol, won the men's 15-kilometre cross-country race in 38min 22.6sec.

That time saw him beat Russia's Alexander Bessmertnykh by 2.9 seconds, while Finland's Livo Niskanen came third in 38:43.0.

Bessmertnykh was one of dozens of Russian athletes initially banned for life by the International Olympic Committee after being embroiled in the country's doping scandal.

His ban was eventually overturned, however, following a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

It means Niskanen is the only medallist from today's race who has not found himself embroiled in a doping scandal, on a day when subterfuge and foul play has dominated the headlines.

Elsewhere in Seefeld, the women’s ski jumping final also went ahead, which was won by Norway's Olympic champion Maren Lundby.

She took gold with two jumps of 106.5 metres and 104.5m to score 259.6 points.

That placed her just 0.5 points ahead of her German rival and 2019 team champion Katherina Althaus.

Meanwhile Austria’s home favourite and 2011 world champion Daniela Iraschko-Stolz finished third with a score of 247.6.