Canada’s Beckie Scott (finally) gets North Americas first ever Olympic Cross-Country Gold!
The Sport Court of Arbitration (CAS) has ordered the International Olympic committee (IOC) to order Danilova (Russia) and Muehlegg (Spain) to return their Olympic Gold Medals. The two skiers violated Olympic rules and values. See <CAS Press Release
 annulled all of the results of Russian Olga Danilova from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games due to positive drug tests. The action followed from the December 18, 2003 decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport that all results achieved by an athlete in a particular Olympic Games should be overturned if the athlete is found guilty of a doping offence. Danilova was caught doping in her final race at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, but the IOC had initially declined to overturn her earlier results. The recent decision responded to appeals from the Olympic Committees of Norway and Canada.</p>
<p>“This is a great day for Canada, our national team athletes and the cross-country skiing community across the country,” said Léopold Nadeau, president, Cross Country Canada. “Beckie has become an international hero and an icon for fair play. We are tremendously excited that she will finally get the recognition as an Olympic champion for her precedent-setting performance.”</p>
<p>The Vermillion, Alta. native joined Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), and a team of lawyers, in presenting arguments at the arbitration hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland in early September 2003. At the Salt Lake City Games, Scott became the first North American woman to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, and she has been waiting 22 months for the final outcome to be determined. Scott originally finished third in the five-kilometre pursuit at the Olympic Games, but was bumped up to the silver medal position in June 2003 after the IOC stripped another Russian, Larissa Lazutina, of her 2002 Olympic results for a prior doping infraction.</p>
<p>On behalf of Scott, the Canadian Olympic Committee took legal action against the Russians. The Norwegian Olympic Committee, along with six Norwegian athletes, took similar action.</p>
<p>“Cross Country Canada is grateful for the support of the Canadian Olympic Committee which successfully pursued this appeal,” said Nadeau, who adds the fight against doping is not over. “It is gratifying to know the Olympic gold medal is now a pure medal. This is a step in the right direction, but the fight doesn't end here. Cross Country Canada is committed to being one of the world-leaders against doping in sport for future generations. The war against doping is clearly making progress.”</p>
<p>Cross Country Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and CODA, held a public medal presentation ceremony at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary in October to award Beckie with the silver medal. The Canadian Olympic Committee is making plans to officially present Beckie with the gold medal.</p>
<p>Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada's optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than two million Canadians participating annually.</p>
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