FIS wants reasonably extended ban for Norwegian Cross-Country skier

April 21, 2017

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has in its appeal to the Court of Arbitration and Sport (CAS) stated they want a reasonably extended sanction for the Norwegian Cross Country skier Therese Johaug.

 

FIS Doping Panel has found that the sanction imposed is on the low end of the range of reasonable sanctions and fails to adequately reflect the fact that the athlete Therese Johaug failed to read the doping warning label printed in red on the package despite the fact that the medication was unknown to her and was purchased in a foreign country. For the above reasons, the FDP has filed an appeal on the decision of the Adjudication Committee to the Court of Arbitration and Sport in order to have an independent judgement of the sanction. Johaug tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in an out-of-competition test.

13 month suspension

After a hearing and discovery process, the Adjudication Committee of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports on 10th February 2017 issued a 13 month suspension for Therese Johaug. The Committee, when issuing the 13 month suspension, found that Therese Johaug had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and held that she acted not without no fault, but rather with no significant fault. The evidence before the Committee established that the use of the banned substance was unintentional and based upon the advice of a trusted and reputable doctor. Following a full review by the FIS Doping Panel of the decision of the above mentioned Committee, FIS has decided to file an appeal against the decision of the Adjudication Committee of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).

CAS arbitration procedure is in progress

According to the CAS, the FIS requests that the period of ineligibility imposed on the athlete be "reasonably extended". A CAS arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a Panel composed of either one or three arbitrators will be constituted. The Panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing. Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and, at a later date, issue a decision in the form of an Arbitral Award.

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