IOC allows Josef Strobl to race for Slovenia at Torino Games
IOC allows Josef Strobl to race for Slovenia at Torino Games{mosimage}TORINO, Italy – Josef ”Pepi” Strobl, a former Austrian alpine skier, was granted authorization Sunday to compete for Slovenia at the Torino Olympics.
Strobl’s petition to ski for his adopted country at the Feb. 10-26 Games was accepted by the International Olympic Committee executive board.
Strobl met the conditions because he holds a Slovenian passport and lives across the Austrian border in Slovenia, the IOC said.
Strobl, who finished third in the overall World Cup standings in 1996-97 and 1999-2000, quit the Austrian team in 2004. He has won six World Cup races.
The IOC also approved German-born biathlete Barbara Ertl’s switch to Italian nationality. She is married to an Italian and has Italian citizenship.
– The Associated Press