Women's biathlon World Cup leader Franziska Preuß of Germany will miss the events in Hochfilzen from Friday due to a coronavirus infection, reported dpa.
The 29-year-old therefore looks set to lose the yellow vest in Austria.
"Franziska is still struggling with the after-effects of a Covid infection, which unfortunately hit shortly after Östersund. She is not yet fit enough to compete at the World Cup in Hochfilzen," team doctor Sebastian Torka said in a statement.
She is already the second Covid-19 absentee in the German team after Hanna Kebinger announced her positive test on Instagram on Thursday.
Preuß is the first German woman to lead the standings since double Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier in 2017.
Germany were also leading the men's standings but surprise package Philipp Nawrath had a day to forget in the Hochfilzen s and finished 34th behind perfect shooter Tarjei Bø of Norway.
Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson took over as World Cup leader.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
