Pechstein allowed to train as she fights doping ban

Sep 4, 2009, 13:43 GMT

   Berlin - Five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein will be allowed to train fully while she fights a two-year ban imposed for blood doping, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Friday.

The court, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, said the 37-year-old German can train pending a decision on her appeal to the court against the ban, but cannot take part in competition.

Pechstein welcomed the decision, saying: 'Looking ahead to the Olympic Games (in Vancouver in February) this will make a lot of things easier.'

Pechstein had asked for the decision taken by the ISU disciplinary commission on July 1, in which she was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation and suspended from competition for a period of two years, be stayed until the CAS renders its final decision.

CAS said Pechstein 'is granted leave to participate in all training sessions authorized or organized by the Deutsche Eisschnelllauf Gemeinschaft e.V. (DESG) or a club and to use for training purposes any available speed skating racing track, until the panel's decision on the merits of the appeal.'

It added that CAS intended to hold a hearing at the beginning of October 'with the objective of rendering a final decision before the World Cup speed skating season starts.'

Pechstein was banned for abnormally high levels of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells) on several occasions, including the allround world championships in February in Norway. She has protested her innocence.