TURIN, ITALY – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a formal inquiry into the recent unsanctioned Winter Olympic run of Nazgul, a 3-year-old wolfdog, citing concerns over 'competitive integrity' and 'species-specific rule adherence.' Nazgul, who captivated audiences worldwide after escaping his owners and spontaneously joining a biathlon course, is now under scrutiny for what officials are calling 'a clear violation of bipedal-only regulations.'

'While we appreciate the spirit of competition, the Olympic Games are for humans, by humans, and occasionally, for humans who identify as incredibly fast humans,' stated Dr. Elara Vulpine, Head of Interspecies Sports Ethics for the IOC, in a press conference. 'Mr. Nazgul's natural fur insulation and quad-pedal propulsion system provided an undeniable, dare I say, 'wolfish' edge over athletes who rely solely on Lycra and two legs.'

Sources close to the investigation suggest Nazgul may also be retroactively stripped of his 'unofficial gold medal' in the 10km pursuit, a title spontaneously awarded by a group of highly impressed, albeit slightly inebriated, spectators. His owners, the Rossi family, maintain Nazgul was merely 'following his instincts' and 'had no prior knowledge of biathlon rules or the concept of performance-enhancing kibble.'

'He just loves to run,' Mrs. Isabella Rossi tearfully explained, clutching a framed photo of Nazgul mid-stride. 'We never trained him for competitive skiing or target practice. He mostly just chases squirrels and occasionally judges our cooking.' The IOC is expected to issue a preliminary ruling by next Tuesday, with a possible lifetime ban from all future Olympic-adjacent events, including the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch, which Nazgul reportedly tried to 'fetch' during a rehearsal.