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German speed skater Claudia Pechstein loses case against CAS

October 3, 2018

Veteran German speed skater Claudia Pechstein has failed in a legal case in which she claimed the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lacks independence and impartiality. But she also won an aspect of the case.

https://p.dw.com/p/35rDI
Pyeongchang 2018 Olympische Winterspiele Eisschnallauf Claudia Pechstein
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Jung Yeon-Je

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, revealed the decision on Tuesday but did find that Pechstein was denied her right to a fair trial as she was not given a public hearing.

As a result, the 46-year-old was awarded €8,000 euros ($9,200) compensation for this part of the finding at the end of a legal battle which has dragged on for almost a decade. Pechstein said on Wednesday that she will appeal the part of the decision which went against her.

In 2009, the five-time Olympic gold medallist was banned for two years in connection with suspicious blood levels in her biological passport.

She always claimed she was innocent, and doctors later diagnosed a genetic defect. But the International Skating Union (ISU) said this did not adequately explain the abnormal levels.

Pechstein appealed the case to the CAS, which backed the ISU imposing the ban, in a private hearing.

The skater subsequently claimed, but failed to prove, the processes at the CAS were unfair, including the method in which judges were appointed.
 

mp/ (DPA, SID)