UPDATE 1-Doping-Three Russian biathletes banned for two years

(Adds Yaroshenko quotes)

MOSCOW, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Biathlon world champions Albina Akhatova, Ekaterina Iourieva and Dmitri Yaroshenko have each been banned for two years after testing positive for the blood-booster EPO, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) said.

The three Russians tested positive during a World Cup event in Ostersund, Sweden last December, the sport's governing body said in a statement.

It has taken several months for the IBU's anti-doping commission to make a final decision after the trio were provisionally suspended in February and had to miss the world championships in Pyeongchang, South Korea that month.

All three have been leading athletes in their sport, with Akhatova winning the Olympic relay gold in 2006 and three world titles. Yaroshenko is a twice world champion and Iourieva is a world champion.

Russian media quoted the trio as saying they would appeal.

Yaroshenko, who was facing a four-year suspension, said he was relieved not to face a longer ban.

"It was a relief to say the truth because initially they wanted to ban me for four years," the 32-year-old said on his personal website (www.dmitry-yaroshenko.ru).

(Reporting by Gennady Fyodorov; editing by Sonia Oxley and Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)