Svetlana Sokolova and Pavel Andreev were the fastest Russian team out of three entrants, rendering the remaining Russian results void. 

Both athletes had suffered disappointment in yesterday's men's and women's individual races, with Sokolova finishing second and Andreev fourth.

Today they dominated the relay, which consists of four laps of a 1.5 kilometre run, a 2.65km bike and a 2km ski, in a total time of 1 hour 20min 50sec.

Sokolova completed the first lap in 21:59, with Andreev, a six-time individual winner before he lost his title yesterday, completing the second in 17:57.

Sokolova's second lap was finished in 22:32, before Andreev recorded a time of 18:32 in the fourth and final lap to ensure a Russian victory. 

Hosts Romania came second, with Edith Vakaria and Viorel Palici finishing in a total time of 1:23:41.

Italy's Sandra Mairhofer and Giuseppe Lamastra were in third with 1:24:39. 

Russia's first team of individual men's champion Dmitriy Bregeda and women's silver medallist Yulia Surikova had recorded the second quickest time, but one country is not allowed two places on the podium.

The 2x2 mixed relay format has been introduced this season, making its debut in winter triathlon at the World Championships in Asiago earlier this month.

Andreev was also victorious then, alongside team-mate Daria Rogozina.

Today's action in Cheile Grădiştei concluded the European Championships.