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Pechstein will discover appeal hearing outcome next month

Oct 24, 2009, 9:16 GMT

Lausanne, Switzerland - Five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein will have to wait until next month to hear the outcome of an appeal hearing on a ban imposed for blood doping. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said after a two-day hearing before a three-strong panel of arbitrators in Lausanne that a final decision on the case was not expected before November 10. Pechstein and the German speed skating association DESG are appealing against a decision by the International Skating Union (ISU) disciplinary commission to suspend her for two years. Pechstein, who was banned on July 1 after being found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation, was told by CAS last month she could train fully but not take part in competition pending her appeal. The 37-year-old skier was banned for abnormally high levels of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells) on several occasions, including the all-round world championships in February in Norway. She has protested her innocence and argued before the court that the high levels of red blood cells could be produced naturally. 'There continues to be no definite proof (of doping) which is why I feel that it must turn out well for us,' she said on Friday.

Europe News

Pechstein will discover appeal hearing outcome next month

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