November 24, 2009 – New details have emerged regarding our report of an international coaches meeting in Beitostolen, Norway held on Friday the day before the 2009/10 Veissemann XC Ski World Cup began. The crux of the issue centered around on-going doping problems in the sport, with a focus on issues pertaining to skiers from the Russian National cross-country team.

Justin Wadsworth, member of the US Ski Team coaching staff, helped organize the gathering telling Canadian Press, “a decision was made that each country was going to push their governing bodies to go to the FIS, and say that as soon as possible, something must be done.”

Each nation also committed to approach the Head of the FIS cross-country committee, Vegard Ulvang, one of Norway’s greatest xc ski stars, to push FIS to oversee the on-going doping problems, particularly as they pertain to blood doping. What we can also confirm was that there were no doping tests whatsoever at round one of the Veissemann XC Ski World Cup in Beitostolen on Nov. 21-22, leaving many observers dismayed and some expressing concern, among them Canadian coach Dave Wood, who commented, “I am surprised if they didn’t do any testing there, and if they didn’t, I’d like to know why.”

Less than 24 hours following the meeting FIS President Gian-Franco Kasper was talking tough. Ironically his comments were made while he was watching a duel slalom event in Moscow. Kasper said that there would be serious sanctions against the Russian Ski Federation, if they don’t move fast to control doping problems…” if things do not change we will have to take action against the Russian NOC or whoever is responsible.”

Wood added that “we are tested by our people two or three times a month but outside of North America many people are doing nothing.”

Experts point to the well-known performance enhancing drug, EPO, or erythropoietin, and the newest generation EPO Cera also plaguing cycling. Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC) will have to surrender the silver medal he won at the Beijing Olympic road race as retrospective doping test done in April 2009 showed traces of EPO Cera – read more here.

The General Secretary of the Russian Ski Federation, Georgy Mnatsakanov issued a statement saying that doping in Russia is isolated to a few athletes, and is not a team-wide issue.

More on this story to follow.