German Olympic Committee reacts with caution to Pechstein case

HAMBURG - The German Olympic Committee (DSOB) Saturday reacted with caution to a doping ban on the nation’s most successful Winter Olympian, speed skater Claudia Pechstein.

Pechstein, 37, was banned for two years by the ruling body ISU because she had abnormal blood values and abnormal changes of blood values at several tests, most notably at the allround World Championships in February in Norway.

Pechstein is the most successful German athlete in Winter Olympics history, with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals 1992-2006.

The DOSB said in a statement that it was “dismayed” by the case, but Like Pechstein’s lawyers and the German speed skating federation pointed out that Pechstein had not failed a doping test.

“The DOSB detects that there is no positive doping test and that the sanction is based entirely on circumstantial evidence,” it said.

“The evidential value of this circumstantial evidence is doubted by renowned experts. It will depend on the proceedings before the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) whether the international federation can prove a violation of anti-doping rules.”

“Claudia Pechstein has told the DOSB board she never violated anti-doping rules. While the presumption of innocence is waived in the case of a positive test, it remains in effect in this case due to a completely different situation.”

Pechstein is believed to be the first athlete to be sanctioned via evidence from a biological passport. The ISU introduced this screening method in 1999. It is also used in several ski sports and cycling.