  We investigate, theoretically and experimentally, the transmission of light
through a thermal vapour of three-level ladder-type atoms, in the presence of 2
counter-propagating control fields. A simple theoretical model predicts the
presence of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) in this pure
three-level system when the control field is resonant. Experimentally, we use
$^{87}$Rb in a large magnetic field of 0.62~T to reach the hyperfine
Paschen-Back regime and realise a non-degenerate three-level system.
Experimental observations verify the predictions over a wide range of
detunings.
