The International Skating Union (ISU) has received the CAS Decision concerning Ms. Claudia Pechstein and acknowledges that the ISU Disciplinary Commission decision of July 1, 2009 was upheld.

The ISU, ten years ago, was among the first International Federations to develop and adopt special blood screening programs to develop longitudinal profiling of blood parameters for ice skaters (now known as an athlete´s “biological passport”). The ISU has performed more than 11500 tests on more than 1650 skaters (mainly speed skaters) and has thus obtained very reliable blood profile of all tested skaters. This has allowed the ISU Medical Commission to detect abnormal blood values and to carry out subsequent targeted anti-doping tests.

The ISU adopted its blood screening program in cooperation and with the assistance of top specialists in medicine, manufacturers of laboratory equipment, experts in computer technology and programming. The ISU Procedures for Blood Testing have been in existence and have been applied under ISU rules for many years with the full cooperation of ISU Members and skaters. The current Rules are published in Communication No. 1520.

The ISU considers it has performed its obligations as the guardian of fair sport conditions in international competitions, as imposed by the IOC and by the WADA Code.

The Arbitral Award of the Court of Arbitration for Sport of November 25, 2009, the ISU Disciplinary decision of July 1, 2009 as well as ISU Communication 1571 of July 1, 2009 are available below.

Useful links:

Court of Arbitration for Sport Press release

Arbitral Award - Court of Arbitration for Sport

Full Decision of the ISU Disciplinary Commission - 1 July 2009

ISU Communication 1571 - Decision of the ISU Disciplinary Commission

Press Release July 2009 - Decision of the ISU Disciplinary Commission