Mika Kristian Myllylä was a Finnish cross country skier who has competed from 1992 to 2005. He won six medals at the Winter Olympics, earning one gold (1998: 30 km), one silver (1994: 50 km), and four bronzes (1994: 30 km, 4 × 10 km; 1998: 10 km, 4 × 10 km) died he was , 41. Myllylä also won a total of nine medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, winning four golds (1997: 50 km, 1999: 10 km, 30 km, 50 km), three silvers (10 km + 15 km combined pursuit: 1997, 1999; 4 × 10 km relay: 1997), and two bronzes (10 km: 1995, 1997).
(September 12, 1969 – July 5, 2011)
He was on his way to become one of the greatest stars in cross country skiing history, until he was caught doping in the Finnish 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships scandal for taking hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a blood plasma expander usually used to cover up the use of erythropoietin (EPO) in athletes. The scandal also affected five other Finnish skiers, including Jari Isometsä and Harri Kirvesniemi. Myllylä received a two year suspension from the FIS as a result. In connection with a 2011 court case, Myllylä gave a sworn statement where he admitted using EPO in the 1990s, during his career.[2]After the suspension Myllylä tried to return to skiing, but he did not have as much success as he had before his break, despite him winning a few Finnish championships. Myllylä retired in 2005. After retirement Myllylä has been in the news for many alcohol-related problems.[3] On July 5, 2011 Myllylä was found dead at his home in Kokkola. The police do not believe that foul play was involved.[4]
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