German skier stripped of Beaver Creek Birds of Prey win for oxygen tank use
The Associated Press
OBERHOFEN, Switzerland — The International Ski Federation has disqualified Stefan Luitz from his first World Cup win for inhaling from an oxygen tank between giant slalom runs.
The federation says the German racer will lose his prize money of $46,000 and 100 World Cup points for the Dec. 2 victory in Beaver Creek. Luitz will not be banned.
Racing at an altitude of 10,340 feet, Luitz used the oxygen before retaining his first-run lead over Marcel Hirscher. The Austrian great will be awarded the win.
The International Ski Federation prohibits using supplemental oxygen even though the World Anti-Doping Agency does not.
Skiing’s governing body says its hearing panel’s decision is “not a sanction, but a consequence of the rule violation.”
Luitz and Germany’s ski federation can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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