MOSCOW — Triple Olympic biathlon champion Darya Domracheva says she will miss the entire upcoming season after being struck down by the illness mononucleosis.
The illness had been due to sideline her for several months and the 29-year-old Domracheva decided to take a full-season sabbatical instead, in comments reported by media in her native Belarus.
She denies any plans to retire, saying that she will instead "recover strength and get motivated for next year."
Domracheva won the individual, pursuit and mass start races at last year’s Winter Olympics.
Mononucleosis, also known as mono or glandular fever, is an infectious disease which can leave sufferers with severe fatigue.