Claudia Pechstein: German Speedskating Champion Banned for Doping

by Scott Wu | November 25, 2009 at 10:45 am

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Claudia Pechstein, Germany's 5-time Olympic speed skating champion, will be banned for 2 years as she failed a drugs test. The result of her blood test was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Claudia Pechstein will miss the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Pechstein's blood samples, taken February this year in the World Speedskating Championships, showed a high level of immature red blood cells:

The International Skating Union banned her for two years after blood samples taken at the World Allround Championships last season showed a high level of immature red blood cells or reticulocytes, suggesting she had had a transfusion.

Pechstein said: "It's incredibly hard for me to accept it." Her lawyer said she would take the case to the Swiss supreme court.

Claudia Pechstein won 9 Olympic medals since 1992. She is allowed to continue with her training but cannot compete until February 2011.