FIS News
Decision of FIS Hearing Panel: Thai competitions in Krvavec (SLO)
The FIS Hearing Panel has issued its’ decision in the case of four giant slalom competitions for ladies that were organised by the Alpine Ski Club Triglav at the Krvavec Ski area (SLO) between 17th and 19th January 2014.
The competitions were organised at the request of the management of Vanessa Vanankorn, through the Thai Olympic Committee in its capacity as the FIS member National Ski Association. The Krvavec competitions were the last opportunity for Vanessa Vanakorn to achieve the necessary FIS points to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games, Sochi 2014.
In July 2014 the Executive Committee of the Ski Association of Slovenia issued a report in which it was determined that violations had taken place at these competitions and imposed sanctions on certain persons within its jurisdiction. Additionally it forwarded its report to FIS in view of the alleged manipulation and thereby validity of the results.
After considering written submissions and testimony at a hearing on 3rd October 2014, the Hearing Panel found to its comfortable satisfaction that the results of the four ladies giant slalom races that took place on 18th and 19th January 18 2014 at Krvavec (SLO) were manipulated, resulting in the calculation of FIS Points that do not reflect the true performance of the competitors that participated in those events and in particular the points awarded to Vanessa Vanakorn (Mae).
The Hearing Panel found that:
As the Hearing Panel found that two or more participants combined to breach the FIS Rules, in accordance with the FIS Anti-Corruption Rules the Hearing Panel recommends to the FIS Council to annul the four competitions in Krvavec from January 18th and 19th 2014 and that any and all points earned by the participating competitors be deleted. The FIS Council is meeting on 18th November 2014.
In the event that the results of the competitions are annulled, Vanessa Vanakorn (THA) and Frederica Selva (RSM) would not have achieved the necessary FIS point performance level to be eligible to participate in the Olympic Winter Games. This information has been communicated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Decisions may be appealed either by the FIS or the Participants to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (CAS) in application of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration within 21 days.
•The results of two giant slalom races on 19th January included a competitor who was not present at, and did not participate in the Krvavec Competitions.
•Another competitor was placed 2nd in one race despite the fact she fell. Her time is understood to have been adjusted afterwards by more than 10 seconds.
•At least one competitor started away from the starting gate outside the automatic timing wand that was manually opened by the starter when she was already on the course.
•A previously retired competitor with the best FIS points in the competition took part for the sole purpose of lowering the penalty to the benefit the participants in the races.
•The weather conditions were so bad that no regular race could be held and “any comparable competition in Slovenia would have been cancelled” according to the competition referee.
•The races courses were not changed for the second runs as is required by the FIS rules.
•Approximately 23 competitors participated in the two races held on 18th January 2014, however at least two competitors on the official results were not in attendance.
•Only eight competitors were on the start list for the two races on January 19th 2014 and only six achieved a result.
The Hearing Panel has issued the following sanctions:
•Borut Hrobat (SLO), Chief of Race, two year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Fabio De Cassan (ITA), FIS Technical Delegate, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Matiaz Goltez (SLO), Chief of Timing, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Vlado Makuc (SLO), Referee, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Uros Sinkovec (SLO), Starter, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Vanessa Vanakorn (THA), Athlete, four year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
Source: fis-ski.com
The competitions were organised at the request of the management of Vanessa Vanankorn, through the Thai Olympic Committee in its capacity as the FIS member National Ski Association. The Krvavec competitions were the last opportunity for Vanessa Vanakorn to achieve the necessary FIS points to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games, Sochi 2014.
In July 2014 the Executive Committee of the Ski Association of Slovenia issued a report in which it was determined that violations had taken place at these competitions and imposed sanctions on certain persons within its jurisdiction. Additionally it forwarded its report to FIS in view of the alleged manipulation and thereby validity of the results.
After considering written submissions and testimony at a hearing on 3rd October 2014, the Hearing Panel found to its comfortable satisfaction that the results of the four ladies giant slalom races that took place on 18th and 19th January 18 2014 at Krvavec (SLO) were manipulated, resulting in the calculation of FIS Points that do not reflect the true performance of the competitors that participated in those events and in particular the points awarded to Vanessa Vanakorn (Mae).
The Hearing Panel found that:
As the Hearing Panel found that two or more participants combined to breach the FIS Rules, in accordance with the FIS Anti-Corruption Rules the Hearing Panel recommends to the FIS Council to annul the four competitions in Krvavec from January 18th and 19th 2014 and that any and all points earned by the participating competitors be deleted. The FIS Council is meeting on 18th November 2014.
In the event that the results of the competitions are annulled, Vanessa Vanakorn (THA) and Frederica Selva (RSM) would not have achieved the necessary FIS point performance level to be eligible to participate in the Olympic Winter Games. This information has been communicated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Decisions may be appealed either by the FIS or the Participants to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (CAS) in application of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration within 21 days.
•The results of two giant slalom races on 19th January included a competitor who was not present at, and did not participate in the Krvavec Competitions.
•Another competitor was placed 2nd in one race despite the fact she fell. Her time is understood to have been adjusted afterwards by more than 10 seconds.
•At least one competitor started away from the starting gate outside the automatic timing wand that was manually opened by the starter when she was already on the course.
•A previously retired competitor with the best FIS points in the competition took part for the sole purpose of lowering the penalty to the benefit the participants in the races.
•The weather conditions were so bad that no regular race could be held and “any comparable competition in Slovenia would have been cancelled” according to the competition referee.
•The races courses were not changed for the second runs as is required by the FIS rules.
•Approximately 23 competitors participated in the two races held on 18th January 2014, however at least two competitors on the official results were not in attendance.
•Only eight competitors were on the start list for the two races on January 19th 2014 and only six achieved a result.
The Hearing Panel has issued the following sanctions:
•Borut Hrobat (SLO), Chief of Race, two year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Fabio De Cassan (ITA), FIS Technical Delegate, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Matiaz Goltez (SLO), Chief of Timing, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Vlado Makuc (SLO), Referee, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Uros Sinkovec (SLO), Starter, one year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
•Vanessa Vanakorn (THA), Athlete, four year ban from participation in any FIS sanctioned events worldwide
Source: fis-ski.com
