Ostersund, Sweden - Olympic biathlon champion Anna Carin Olofsson is sidelined for the final world championships races in her native Sweden, and may in fact never return to the sport. The ruling body IBU said on its website on Saturday that flu prevents Olofsson from skiing in the mass start race set for later Saturday and Sunday's relay.
The website quoted her German coach Wolfgang Pichler as saying that he has doubts whether Olofsson will return to the sport after having her first baby. Olofsson, who turns 35 in April, said recently that she is four months pregnant.
"A comeback after you have given birth is not so easy. We can't count on her coming back," said Pichler.
Olofsson won Olympic gold 2006 in the mass start race, a mixed relay world title last year, and nine World Cup races in her career.
She failed to medal at her home worlds in Ostersund, coming fourth in the mixed relay, 22nd in the sprint and 23rd in the pursuit.
