September 11, 2003 – Cross-country skiers around the world are anxiously awaiting the final decision of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. On September 9, 2003, the court heard appeals lodged by the Olympic Committees of Canada and Norway arguing that athletes who have tested positive at any point during the Olympic Games should be stripped of their medals and their participation at the Game nullified. The legal proceedings are scheduled to last only one day and a decision will be released shortly.

Canada's Beckie Scott was scheduled to arrive in Lausanne in time to attend the proceedings. The outcome of the court's decision will greatly affect Scott who originally won a bronze medal in the 5km Free Pursuit at the 2002 Winter Olympics Games in Salt Lake City. That bronze medal was upgraded to a silver medal this summer when the original silver medalist, Russian skier Larissa Lazutina, was stripped of all of her 2002 results. (Based on the results of a positive dope test result from 2001 that was revealed in 2002, Lazutina should have been suspended from all 2002 events, including the Olympic Games in Salt Lake, which ultimately meant nullifying her silver medal win in the 5km Free Pursuit). The decision to strip Lazutina of her medals was made in June of 2003.

In Scott's case, she was also beaten by Russian Olga Danilova, who won the gold in that same 5km Free Pursuit, but then tested positive days later in a different Olympic event. If the court's decision is positive, Scott will be awarded the gold medal, as it will be stripped from Danilova.

Other members of the Canadian delegation include COC President Michael Chambers and a strong legal team. The Norwegian delegation is expected to include multiple gold medal winner Einar Ole Bjoerndalen, who stands to add a cross-country skiing bronze medal to his biathlon achievements if Germany's Johan Muehlegg is stripped of his gold from the men's 30 km free technique race.

The Calgary Olympic Development Association at the Canada Olympic Park will host a new medal ceremony for Scott in Calgary, October 21st to award her either the silver, or depending on the outcome of this month's decision, the Olympic gold medal.