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FIS on Allowing Suspended Russian Skiers to Rejoin National Team: It’s ‘Special Circumstances’

In part of the media storm following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s response to an appeal by six Russian cross-country skiers, Russian Ski Federation President Elena Valbe announcing the suspensions on Dec. 22, 2016. In cases without a positive drug test, sports federations are allowed to implement an “optional provisional suspension”. This is what FIS put in place on the six Russian skiers, whose samples were allegedly tampered with at the 2014 Olympics. Fussek said...

CAS Gives FIS Until October to Bring Doping Case Against Russian Skiers

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) did one thing that the Russian skiers wanted: they issued a decision of some sort quickly, far more quickly than is typical in doping appeals. Alexander Legkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin, Alexey Petukhov, Evgenia Shapovalova, Julia Ivanova, and Evgeniy Belov han independent investigation commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. In the six months since the provisional suspensions were enacted, FIS has not formally brought Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ARDV’s) against the six...

Russian Skiers Appear Before Court of Arbitration for Sport

On Monday, Russian cross-country skiers appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to protest their provisional suspension by the International Ski Federation (FIS). “The hearings were held for five hours, during which we actively discussed all the legal and factual subtleties,” Christoph Wieschemann – the lawyer for Alexander Legkov and Evgeny Belov – In late December, 2016, FIS suspended Legkov, Belov, Maxim Vylegzhanin, Alexei Petukhov, Julia Ivanova, and Evgenia Shapovalova. The suspensions were...

Taschlers, Ferrari Sentenced in High-Profile Biathlon Doping Case

In the penultimate chapter of a doping story which began nearly two and a half years ago, Italian biathlon relay World Champion Gottlieb Taschler and his son Daniel, an IBU Cup-level competitor, CyclingNews.com reports. “Prosecutors believe they included instructions on how to take EPO and details of secret telephone numbers where Dr. Ferrari could be contacted. Taschler had pushed his son to work with Dr. Ferrari as a way to boost his athletic career.” The elder Taschler...

FIS Appeals Johaug Decision, Seeking Longer Sanction

The International Ski Federation (FIS) is appealing the suspension of Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug. The organization asks for a longer sanction than the-13 month ban she was initially served by the Norwegian Olympic Committee. Johaug tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol, which was an ingredient in a lip cream she used to treat a combination of sunburn and cold sore. The Norwegian Olympic Committee had decided that this wrote in a press release. “The evidence...

What About TUE’s? The Counterpoint to Doping Scandals, and Rarely Granted in Biathlon

A common refrain is emerging from teams embroiled in sports doping scandals: that they are being unfairly persecuted, because other countries are engaging in ‘legalized doping’ by way of Therapeutic Use Exemptions. TUE’s, as they are called, allow athletes with documented health issues to use some medications that would otherwise be prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Some common examples are asthma inhalers, glucocorticoids to treat injuries, and, for American athletes, medication to treat attention...

Kazakhs Allege Rights Violated in Austrian Police Investigation

The Kazakhstan National Biathlon Teamstated in a press release on Wednesday. “Since the investigations of the Criminal Intelligence Service Austria are still ongoing with regard to the evaluation of material found, the IBU reserves the right for any further disciplinary action based on any possible findings by the Austrian State Attorney at a later time.” In a press conference after the announcement was made, the Kazakh team claimed to be vindicated by the test results....

Johaug Receives 13-Month Ban for Positive Doping Test

The Norwegian Olympic Committee today issued its ruling on Therese Johaug, the cross-country ski star who tested positive for the steroid clostebol. “Therese Johaug… loses the right to participate in competitions and organized training, and the right to be an elected or appointed officer, for a period of 13 months, effective from the date the suspension was imposed, 18 October 2016,” the Committee posted in a statement on its website, according to a translation Johaug, Anti-Doping...

Kazakhstan Team Raided in Doping Investigation at Biathlon Championships

Austrian police raided the lodgings of Kazakhstan’s national biathlon team outside of Hochfilzen, Austria, on Thursday morning. The Kazakh team is there to compete at World Championships, where they finished 11th in the opening competition, a mixed relay, later in the day. “Numerous medical devices and medications were seized,” the Criminal Intelligence Service of Austria wrote in a statement according to the BBC. “They found in the room of our doctor some medicine. But according to...

A Database of the 99 Skiing Anti-Doping Samples in the McLaren Report

99 samples and 46 skiers, including Paralympians, are mentioned in in a previous piece, they should not be considered accurate information about whether an athlete did or did not compete in a particular event in Sochi. However, an athlete’s mention in these documents indicates that they were at least competing at a level where their inclusion in the Olympics was possible. EDP1166, meanwhile, is a list compiled of tests referred to in the report and how they were...

A Database of the 78 Biathlon Anti-Doping Samples in the McLaren Report

  78 samples from 38 biathletes are mentioned in in a previous piece, they should not be considered accurate information about whether an athlete did or did not compete in a particular event in Sochi. However, an athlete’s mention in these documents indicates that they were at least competing at a level where their inclusion in the Olympics was possible. Note 2: This is a deeper dive into the evidence after our initial review, on...

Suspended Vylegzhanin Won Regional Championship, Violating FIS Rules

One result of provisionally suspended six Russian cross-country skiers while it investigates possible doping at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Among the six was Maxim Vylegzhanin, who won silver medals in the team sprint, relay and 50-kilometer mass start in Sochi. Although Vylegzhanin has not been cleared by FIS, he competed in two regional championship races over the weekend, winning both. In the 15 k skate, for instance, he beat Evgeny Vakhrushev by...

Eberhard Starts 2017 with Oberhof Sprint Win; IBU World Cup Skiers Call Special Meeting

Even Martin Fourcade is a mere mortal who can’t win every race he competes in. After winning the first three sprints of the 2016/2017 season and five races in a row, for once the French biathlon star had to settle for an eighth place after uncharacteristically missing three targets in his standing shooting stage. That left an opening for other athletes to shine on Thursday afternoon in the men’s 10-kilometer sprint at the International Biathlon Union (IBU)...

FIS Denies Appeal by Suspended Russian Skiers For Tour de Ski

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has denied an appeal by six Russian cross-country skiers suspended under the suspicion of doping. identified at least 34 skiers mentioned in the McLaren report, an investigation into systematic doping in Russia. Content of Legkov and Belov Appeal Legkov and Belov, in German and writes on its website. Urine contains substances excreted from the body, while blood contains those integrated into the body. Testing agencies may not even test for...

Russia Admits Systematic Doping, Yet Remains Unapologetic

“I know that my athletes did not take anything,” and blamed former Moscow lab director Grigory Rodchenkov for sabotaging her skiers with “dirty tricks.” The admission of guilt is likely a move to try to try to stanch the bleeding of Russia’s reputation in the sports world. Several major events, including World Cup and World Junior Championships biathlon events, had been relocated from Russia already. Before that, biathletes had threatened to boycott events in Russia. Six...

Starykh and Loginov Return to International Competition

The Russian rosters for January competition will include two names not seen in a while: Irina Starykh and Alexander Loginov. Both are returning to international competition after serving suspensions for using the blood-doping drug erythropoietin (EPO). Irina Starykh Makes a Fast Return Starykh Starykh failed an out-of-competition test in December 2013 month along with teammate Ekaterina Iourieva. 2013-2014 had been a breakout season for her so far. When asked how she had improved so much by a Russian...

FIS Suspends Six Skiers over Russian Doping, World Cup Finals Moved from Tyumen (Updated)

The International Ski Federation (FIS) 28 athletes being investigated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The cases were brought to light in the McLaren report, an investigation on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). “As a result of the current circumstances whereby the FIS competition season is in full swing and the competitions and sporting accomplishments of the athletes are being undermined by the shadow of the McLaren Investigation Report, the IOC has empowered FIS...

IBU Suspends Two Athletes; Russia Gives Up World Junior Championships and World Cup (Updated)

After an Executive Board meeting today to discuss doping in Russia, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) has provisionally suspended two athletes. The federation opened anti-doping investigations into 29 more. Meanwhile, the Russian Biathlon Union voluntarily gave up their hosting rights for two events: 2017 Youth and Junior World Championships, slated for Ostrov, and a World Cup stage slated for Tyumen. Two Suspensions from the 30+ Cases The IOC has jurisdiction over all anti-doping activity at Olympic...

Czech and British Biathlon to Boycott Tyumen World Cup, Other Teams Consider Joining

In response to evidence of widespread doping in Russia, the Czech Biathlon Union became the first to discuss a boycott. The Czechs will not attend a World Cup stage to be held in Tyumen, Russia, in March; they have been joined by the British Biathlon Union. Several other countries say they hope that the International Biathlon Union will move the event. But the Russian Biathlon Union put out a defiant press release denying any involvement in doping. A Boycott Grows At the...