FIS Council suspends six athletes for anti-doping violations

FIS Council suspends six athletes for anti-doping violations{mosimage}The International Ski Federation (FIS) Council has handed down six suspensions for violations of anti-doping rules, including four for marijuana use.

Alpine skier Primoz Skerbinek of Slovenia tested positive last spring for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. The FIS confirmed the decision of the Slovenian Ski Association and imposed a two-year ban, from March 28, 2003, through March 27, 2005. Skerbinek competed in the St. Moritz world championships last season, with his best finish 21st in the downhill. He was co-champion in downhill at last season’s German nationals.

Lidia Marton Bedia, an alpine skier from Spain, was suspended for three months, from February 3 through May 3, 2003, after testing positive for the stimulant pseudoephedrine.

Four athletes were suspended for two years each after testing positive for marijuana use: freestyle skier Peter Alexander Bouvrie Morales (SPA), cross-country skier Ilazki Barace Baque (SPA); and Italian snowboarders Paulo Bazzano and Lorenzo Barbieri. All four were given suspensions that expire in March 2005.

Norwegian cross-country skier Ine Wigernaes, who tested positive for caffeine during the Norwegian nationals last March, was provisionally suspended from international competition until the outcome of an appeal. Anti-Doping Norway is appealing a decision by the Norwegian Sports Federation to clear Wigernaes, 34, of doping charges.

The Norwegian federation said that Wigernaes’ levels of caffeine were consistent with drinking coffee or soda, and decided not to suspend her. The federation also noted that the World Anti-Doping Agency has decided to remove caffeine from its banned list as of January 1.

The FIS Council approved the suspensions at its meeting on November 16. At the same session in Oberhofen, Switzerland, the FIS formally adopted the 2003-04 FIS Anti-Doping Rules and Procedural Guidelines, compiled in accordance with WADA.