Official Statement of the International Ski Federation in regard doping cases during the 2001/2002 season


On 3rd June 2002, the FIS Council dealt with a number of doping cases and decided on the following sanctions according to the FIS Doping Rules:

Cases related to doping offences during the Olympic Winter Games:

- Larissa Lazutina (RUS) tested positive at an in-competition doping control in Cogne (ITA) on 8th December 2001, and Ramsau (AUT) on 22nd December 2001 for Darbepoietin, also referred to as Aranesp or NESP. The athlete is suspended for two years as from 8th December, 2001 until and including 7th December 2003 and all results she obtained since 8th December 2001 during the 2001/2002 are therefore annulled.

The Council is studying the matter of the doping offence which took place subsequently at the Olympic Winter Games and will deal with this at it’s next meeting in autumn 2002.

- Olga Danilova (RUS) tested positive during the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City (USA) in February 2002 at an out-of-competition control in Soldier Hollow on 21st February 2002, for Darbepoietin, also referred to as Aranesp or NESP. The athlete is suspended for two years from 21st February 2002 until and including 20th February 2004.

- Johann Muehlegg (SPA) tested positive during the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City (USA) in February 2002 at an out-of-competition control in Soldier Hollow on 21st February 2002, for Darbepoietin, also referred to as Aranesp or NESP. The athlete is suspended for two years from 21st February 2002 until and including 20th February 2004.

- Alain Baxter (GBR), Alpine Skiing, tested positive for Methamphetamine on 23rd February 2002 after the Men’s Slalom at the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City (USA). The FIS Council decided that the offence was inadvertent doping and applied a sanction suspension of all FIS calendar competitions during the competition season until 15th December 2002.

Cases related to WADA/FIS out-of-competition controls, competition controls and national controls:

- Alois Blassnig (AUT), Cross-Country (EPO), suspension for 2 years from 2nd March 2002 until 1st March 2004.

- Natalia Baranova (RUS), Cross-Country, (EPO), suspension for 2 years from 18th January 2002 until 17th January 2004. Additional suspension of 3 months until 17th April 2004 for violation of the sanction after competing in the Russian Open Championships in Murmansk.

- Carmen Ranigler (ITA), Snowboarding, (methandienone metabolite), suspension for two years from 13th December 2001 until 12th December 2003. Life ban for trainer Johann Federhofer (ITA).

- Jeroen Borst (NED), Rollerskiing, (refusal to undergo doping control) suspension of 2 years from 26th February 2002 until 25th February 2004.

- Tom Aage Aarnes (NOR), Ski Jumping (amfetamine), suspension for two years from 20th December 2001 until 19th December 2003.

- Josetxo Plazaola Gozategui and Jordi Fradera Requena (SPA), Snowboarding (cannabis), suspension of 2 years until 21st February 2004.

- Patrick Schmid (SUI), Freestyle Skiing, (metenolone, norandrosterone stanozol), suspension of 2 years until 31st March 2003.

- Eric Warren (USA), Snowboarding, inadvertent doping (pseudoephedrine), disqualification from the competition, Parallel GS at the Snowboard World Junior Championships in Rovaniemi (FIN) where he was bronze medallist and a 3 month suspension within the competition season from 5th April until 15th December 2002.

- Kelly Milligan (USA), Cross-Country, inadvertent doping (pseudoephedrine), suspension for 3 months from 10th January until 10th April 2002.

On receipt of the complete documentation from the International Olympic Committee in regard to the Austrian Cross-Country skiers following the meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Kuala Lumpa, the FIS Council will review the cases.



International Ski Federation

4th June 2002