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Published: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:00 AM MDT

Silver Star Mountain Resort is thrilled to announce that Sovereign Lake Nordic Club has successfully won the bid to host the 2011 World Masters Cup, a prestigious Nordic event for cross-country racers over 30 years of age.

World Masters Cup delegates met with Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert and councillor Jack Gilroy to tour the area and ski the renowned Nordic trails at Sovereign Lake and Silver Star.

Dieter Heckmann from Switzerland is the president of the World Masters Cross Country Ski Association. He has skied all over the world and was very impressed with the trails and facilities on the mountain and nearby Vernon. “The accommodation at Silver Star is perfect for our event as everyone is within walking distance of the village center,” said Heckmann.

The World Masters Cup will feature participants from more than 25 countries. To qualify, skiers must be 30 years of age or older, and some competitors are in their 80s. The number of participants is huge the recent 2008 World Masters Cup in McCall, ID, had over 1200 competitors from 23 different countries.

Bruce Cummings, chairman of Sovereign Lake, said the club is extremely pleased to be able to showcase the region's Nordic facilities to the world. “We have world class trails connected to world class accommodations at Silver Star Mountain Resort and in Vernon,” said Cummings. “Our volunteers are keen, experienced and very capable of hosting this significant event. Skiers from around the globe will be impressed with everything we have to offer in the North Okanagan.”

“It is very exciting to have the opportunity to host the Nordic World Masters Cup,” said Glenn Bond, Nordic manager at Silver Star Mountain Resort. “Both Silver Star and Sovereign Lake have successfully hosted FIS World Cups in 1991 and 2005. We have proven that we have not only the facilities and amenities, but a large team of skilled, willing and very capable volunteers whose efforts ultimately make these events successful.”

Tom Christensen, Okanagan/Vernon MLA said the winning bid proves that the Vernon area is quickly gaining a reputation for organizing world-class competitions. “Starting with the Nordic World Cup in 2005, building on that with the World Women's Curling Championships in 2008, and now with announcement of the 2011 Nordic Masters World Cup. In each case, Canadians can be proud of how well the North Okanagan has hosted the world,” said Christensen.

Caption: Scott Lemon (Sovereign Lake Nordic Center Club Manager) and Glenn Bond (Silver Star Mountain Resort Nordic Manager) celebrate winning the World Masters Cup bid. (Photo Credit: Tim Fitzgerald, Silver Star Mountain Resort)

Published: Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:00 AM MST

Updated: Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:33 PM MST

The FIS Doping Panel issued its decisions in the cases of Austrian Cross-Country skiers Roland Diethard, Johannes Eder, and Martin Tauber, who were found to have committed anti-doping rule violations at the XX Olympic Winter Games in Torino in 2006.

The allegations raised against the athlete Juergen Pinter were dismissed since they were not found to meet the standard of proof required to sanction the athlete according to the FIS Anti-Doping Rules. However, the Panel reserves the right to re-consider this case in the event the continuing investigations regarding the blood residues found in the tubing used by the athlete in the course of injecting Thiagamma confirm that the needles and tubing found in his possession were used for the purpose of withdrawing or injecting blood.

In April 2006, the IOC Executive Board disqualified the above athletes from the events in which they competed at the XX Olympic Winter Games in Torino and declared the athletes permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity. Additionally, the IOC transferred the files to the International Ski Federation (FIS) to consider whether it should take any further action within its own competence.

The hearings of the four athletes by the FIS Doping Panel took place on the September 17-18, 2007. Following the hearings and a thorough review of the cases, the FIS Doping Panel has found that Roland Diethard, Johannes Eder and Martin Tauber committed violations against the FIS Anti-Doping Rules. These athletes have been suspended according to the provisions of the FIS Anti-Doping Rules for two years, commencing from the date of the decisions, namely from 22nd November 2007 until 21st November 2009. All results achieved by the athletes in competition since February 18th, 2006 are disqualified and all medals, points and prizes received in such competition are forfeited.

The FIS Doping Panel found that Roland Diethard and Martin Tauber committed an anti-doping rule violation contrary to Article 2.6 of the FIS Anti-Doping Rules (Possession of Prohibited Substances and Methods). In the case of Johannes Eder, the FIS Doping Panel found that the athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation contrary to Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method) and Article 2.6 (Possession of Prohibited Substances and Methods) of the FIS Anti-Doping Rules.

The decisions of the FIS Doping Panel may be appealed within 21 days to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The proceedings by the International Ski Federation related to these cases are independent of the proceedings by the International Olympic Committee. Appeals by all four athletes against the decisions of the IOC Executive Board are currently in review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). For more information, please visit www.tas-cas.org. Decisions of the CAS are final and cannot be appealed.

Regarding the decision of the IOC Executive Board dated 24th May 2007 relating to the Austrian Olympic Committee and its officials at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, the proceedings of the FIS Doping Panel are still underway.

Related Articles on FasterSkier.com:
Austrian Cross-Country Skiers Appeal Olympic Ban
Austrian Ski Federation gives lifetime ban to two biathletes and two coaches
IOC: $1 Milllion Fine for Austria in Turin Blood Doping Scandal
IOC bans 6 Austrian athletes for life

Source: FIS

Published: Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:00 AM MDT

Editor's Note: The Austrian Ski Federation's disciplinary commission found the four appealing athletes innocent of any involvement with doping in Turin. We will now see if the CAS agrees…

On November 1st and 2nd, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne will rule on the appeal of four Austrian cross-country skiers. At the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, police found suspicious materials such as syringes, blood bags, medicines and other equipment at the Austrians (Cross-Country and Biathlon) accommodations outside the Olympic Village.

As a result of the police raid, four members of the Austrian Cross-Country Ski Team (Martin Tauber, Juergen Pinter, Roland Diethart and Johannes Eder) were banned for life by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Even though no positive drug tests were confirmed, the IOC banned the athletes based on their possession of drug related materials and equipments. All four skiers maintained their innocence and have filed an appeal of their Olympic ban to the CAS.

As a result of the incidents in Turin, the Austrian Ski Federation (SV) has been levied a $1 million fine. In order to pay this amount, the SV came up with a simple three-year plan. Part of that plan is a reduction in the budgets of the Cross-Country and Biathlon divisions of the SV. Each season, both divisions will have to get by with approximately 200,000 Euros less.

Unfortunately, athletes such as Olympic Champion Christian Hoffman and top-sprinter Martin Stockinger are directly affected by these changes. Hoffmans comment on the situation: It is not easy. The training is going as planned. However, we all have to deal with cutbacks. The SV shortened training camps and decreased the number of people on the support team. Also, only a small group of athletes will be able to attend the on-snow training camp in Finland this November.

In July 2007, the SV confirmed that the two biathletes, Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottman, had been involved in blood doping. Both participated at the Olympic Games in Turin and lived at the accommodation where police found the suspicious material. They are now retired from the sport of biathlon.

Related Articles on FasterSkier.com:
IOC bans 6 Austrian athletes for life
IOC: $1 Milllion Fine for Austria in Turin Blood Doping Scandal
Austrian Ski Federation gives lifetime ban to two biathletes and two coaches

Contributing Sources: www.nachrichten.at, www.news.ch Read the rest of this entry »

Una dintre cele mai placute surprize ale sezonului trecut al Ligii 1, Unirea Urziceni a mai reusit un transfer.

Ialomitenii l-au adus pe fundasul Politehnicii Timisoara, Ersin Mehmedovic, fotbalistul ajungand direct in cantonamentul echipei din Austria. “Am venit la Urziceni sa joc si sa dau maximum din ceea ce pot. Nu vreau sa vorbesc despre obiective, pentru ca la Timisoara ne propuneam an de an obiective indraznete. Vreau sa castig cat mai multe meciuri si sper sa impresionez in Austria si sa castig un post de titular.” De la promovarea in prima divizie, Unirea a reusit aducerea unor fotbalisti importanti ca Bogdan Stelea sau Bogdan Mara, pe Dan Petrescu antrenor si Mihai Stoica presedinte. De curand, MM a reusit chiar aducerea unui sponsor surpriza. Primaria comunei Voluntari va finanta Urziceniul cu aproximativ 3 milioane de euro in sezonul 2007-2008, iar titulatura oficiala a echipei va fi FC Unirea Voluntari Urziceni. .
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Prima pagina din “Marca” este dedicata lui Chivu pentru a treia oara in ultima saptamana!
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Doua meciuri, doua infrangeri! Bilantul de pana acum la Stelei in era Hagi este ingrijorator pentru fani. Ca a pierdut , 1-2 cu APOEL si 2-3 cu SV Ried nu e o problema, dar ca Bostina da din 3 pase, 2 in afara terenului e grav.

Jucatorii Stelei nu se concentreaza si e nevoie de o mana forte pentru a-i scutura si trezi inaintea meciurilor din Champions League cu Zaglebie Lubin. Axul central al defensivei este un bulevard pentru atacanti cunoscuti doar de rude si prieteni. Ovidiu Petre nu este fundas si Hagi il forteaza pe un post pe care nu stie sa se descurce. Fanii Stelei il vor pe Goian in teren si vor sa vada determinare la mijlocul terenului. Steaua lui Hagi joaca mult pe aripi, unde noii veniti Badoi si Emeghara mai au de invatat trasee de joc. Pana la meciul cu Zaglebie mai sunt trei saptamani si stelistii trebuie sa se trezeasca.
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Fundasul Rapidului, Ionut Rada nu este speriat de plecarile jucatorilor de la echipa, dar recunoaste ca pentru a intra in lupta pentru titlu, trebuie sa se intareasca pentru sezonul urmator. “La sfarsitul acestui cantonament speram sa avem un lot competitiv si sa incepem cu dreptul campionatul. Trebuie sa facem o noua echipa si vom vedea dupa cateva meciuri daca suntem mai slabi sau mai puternici decat anul trecut. Urmeaza si un test oficial, partida de Supercupa, si vom avea ocazia sa vedem unde suntem si ce mai avem de facut.” Jucatorul spune ca este dificil atat pentru el, cat si pentru colegii lui, sa se adapteze tacticii noului lor tehnician, Cristiano Bergodi. “E destul de greu cu noul sistem, s-a jucat mult la Rapid cu cel vechi, speram sa ne adaptam si sa-i ajutam si pe colegii nostri mai noi sa se integreze in grup. Nu trebuie sa ne cautam scuze.”
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Steaua lui Hagi a obtinut prima victorie. N&D ros albastru, Neaga - Dica a facut leagea si Hagi a reusit primul succes. Dupa doua infrageri are si Hagi posibilitatea sa zambeasca larg si fara fortari. Steaua are nevoie de moral, are nevoie de succese si de goluri. “Poate am avut amicale prea grele la inceput” spunea Hagi si asta e adevarat. Pentru stelisti urmeaza un nou cantonament in Olanda, la Mierlo, unde vor juca si impotriva vicecampioanei Poloniei, Belchatow, cea mai pierdut titlul in ultima etapa in detrimentul lui Zaglebie Lubin.
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Desi s-a vorbit foarte mult in ultimele zile despre plecarea lui Cristi Chivu de la AS Roma, capitanul nationalei Romaniei ar putea ramane inca un sezon la gruparea din capitala Italiei. Conform speculatiilor si chiar declaratiilor conducatorilor de cluburi, Inter, Barcelona si Real Madrid s-au luptat zile intregi pentru semnatura capitanului Romaniei. Directorul sportiv al lui AS Roma, Daniele Prade a adaugat inca o varianta cu privire la viitorul lui Cristi Chivu. “In acest moment, negocierile pentru transferul lui Chivu sunt intrerupte si nu putem exclude nici varianta ca jucatorul sa mai ramana la AS Roma si in sezonul viitor.” Un lucru este clar, Chivu si-ar dori sa ramana in Italia, campionat care spune el, i se potriveste de minune, “Ori merg la Inter Milano, ori raman la Roma.” Si cand impresarii hotarasc unde sa joci ar fi mai bine sa incerci alti impresari. Uite, lui Mutu ii merge de minune dupa ce a renuntat sa-i mai
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