Italy Wins Cross-Country Gold

Anchor Cristian Zorzi turned a narrow 5.6-second lead into a commanding victory, skiing brilliantly in the final leg to lift Italy to its third gold medal of the Turin Games with a victory Sunday in the 4x10-kilometer cross-country race at Pragelato.

Zorzi finished in 1 hour, 43 minutes, 45.7 seconds -- 15.7 seconds ahead of the silver-medal winning German team.

Sweden won the bronze.

The Austrian team, competing the morning after they found themselves the target of a doping raid, finished last out of the 16 teams.

Italy was in fourth place but close behind when third skier Pietro Piller Cottrer headed out for his 10-kilometer leg, and Zorzi extended the lead Cottrer gave him.

Once they were through, the foursome -- also including Fulvio Valbusa and Giorgio di Centa -- locked arms, raised the flag in their hands and jumped up and down.

The Austrian foursome of Martin Tauber, Juergen Pinter, Roland Diethart and Johannes Eder competed only hours after Italian authorities searched the residences of staff members of the country’s biathlon and cross-country teams overnight, looking for banned substances, according to officials.

“We were surprised in our room,” Pinter said. “Suddenly the police came in and didn’t let us leave on the night before the competition.

“This happened without any positive result from doping control in the team. There’s definitely no doping in the Austrian team.

“It’s crazy.”

All four skiers were among those tested, with Tauber getting no sleep at all and the others only three hours.

The American team of Kris Freeman, Lars Flora, Andrew Johnson and Carl Swenson finished 12th.

CURLING

Norway Still Has Hope; U.S. Women Eliminated

Norway remained alive in its attempt to defend the Olympic men’s title. Now, the Norwegians need some help from the U.S.

Norway (5-4) finished the nine-game round-robin with a 5-2 win over Germany (2-6), but remained a half-game behind Canada for the fourth and final spot in the medal round. Canada (5-3) routed winless New Zealand, 9-1.

The Canadians will face the U.S. (6-2) today. Win, and the 29-time world champions advance to the semifinals. Lose, and Canada falls into a tie for fourth with Norway and the Switzerland-Italy winner.

Switzerland (4-4) remained in contention with an 8-3 win over Sweden (3-6). Also, Finland (7-2) cruised to a 5-2 win over Britain (6-3) with first place on the line.

The Americans had the night off after wrapping up a spot in the medal round in the morning. The United States beat Britain, 9-8, and Finland beat Italy, 7-4, moments later. That meant the Finns, Americans and Brits were all 6-2, and only Canada could catch them.

The U.S. women’s team was eliminated from medal contention when Canada beat Italy, 11-4, in nine ends, leaving no room for the Americans in the semifinals. The U.S. then lost, 9-8, to Switzerland.

FREESTYLE SKIING

Women’s Aerials Qualifying Postponed

Heavy snow postponed qualifying for women’s aerials at Sauze d’Oulx, meaning American Emily Cook and 23 others will have to wait two more days to make their first jumps.

Qualifying was rescheduled for Tuesday. The men are scheduled to qualify today.