German speedskater Claudia Pechstein ‘optimistic’ about appeal of 2-year doping ban

Speedskater Pechstein hopes for doping appeal

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Five-time Olympic speedskating champion Claudia Pechstein is confident about winning her appeal of a two-year doping ban.

The 37-year-old German emerged smiling from a two-day hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where she is challenging a ban imposed by the International Skating Union.

“I am very optimistic,” Pechstein said. “I was treated very well. I have a very good feeling.”

The CAS said a verdict is not expected before Nov. 10 from its panel of three arbitrators.

The ISU banned Pechstein in July even though she’d never failed a drug test. The governing body said she gave blood samples with abnormal levels at the World Allround Championships last February in Hamar, Norway.

The ISU compared blood samples Pechstein had given since 2000 before banning her until 2011.

Pechstein — Germany’s most successful Winter Olympic athlete with nine medals, including five golds — hopes to compete at her sixth straight Winter Games in Vancouver in February if the suspension is overturned.