Swiss court rejects Pechstein bid for extra World Cup race

Dec 10, 2009, 15:16 GMT

Hamburg - A bid by German speed skater Claudia Pechstein to race in more than one event at the upcoming World Cup meeting in Salt Lake City has been rejected by the highest Swiss court.

Pechstein was granted permission by the court on Monday to compete in the 3,000 metres race on Friday despite a doping ban.

But a fresh appeal by her lawyers to enable her to race in the 1,500 metres was turned down by the court on Thursday.

Pechstein, 37, is fighting a two-year ban, imposed by the ruling skating body ISU and confirmed on November 25 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pechstein hopes to finish in the top eight in the 3,000m to qualify for the Vancouver Olympics in February.

The injunction applies only for the Salt Lake City race. A final ruling on Pechstein's appeal is to be made by the SFT at a later stage, but likely before the February 12-28 Games. The case is before a court in Switzerland because the CAS is based there.