Five-time Olympic gold medallist Thingnes Bø had won seven of the previous eight World Cup races and three golds at the World Championships in Oberhof last month.

He was ruled out of the 20 kilometres individual race after testing positive for COVID-19, but closest challenger and team-mate Sturla Holm Lægreid was also sidelined with the virus.

Their absences from the event mean that Thingnes Bø's 399-point lead in the overall standings is now unassailable, earning him a fourth Crystal Globe.

Both athletes hope to compete in the mass start in Östersund on Sunday (March 12).

Doll took advantage of their absence by claiming an impressive first victory of the season.

The 2017 sprint world champion shot clean and clocked 48min 43.4sec to triumph at the Östersund Ski Stadium.

"It is really special because normally I am not such a good shooter," Doll explained.

"I always aim to shoot 20-out-of-20 and today I could reach it.

"Then to win this race, you could say I really used this chance when the Bø Brothers are not here.

"I am really happy."

Tommaso Giacomel of Italy recorded one shooting penalty and earned a first World Cup podium in 49:52.5, and Norway's Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, with one penalty, completed the podium in 49:54.9.

In the women's 15km individual race, Wierer led an Italian one-two with Lisa Vittozzi.

Both athletes shot clean, but Wierer's time of 41:19.6 enabled her to triumph by 25.5sec, helped by a strong final loop.

Vittozzi's second-place finish ensured she took the individual discipline Crystal Globe.

Individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick of Germany placed third in 42:58.4 after one shooting penalty.

Overall leader Julia Simon of France placed fourth with two penalties and a time of 43:09.1.

Simon remains well positioned for a first overall Crystal Globe with 943 points to Vittozzi's 795.

The IBU World Cup in Östersund is due to continue on Saturday (March 11) with the women's 4x6km and men's 4x7.5km relays.